The Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) concluded today at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, following two days of high-level deliberations by African Heads of State and Government.
The Session was held under the outgoing Chairmanship of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union for 2025, and welcomed the assumption of office by H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi, as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026.
The Assembly was preceded by a State Dinner hosted by H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The Opening Ceremony featured statements by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission; H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed; H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; H.E. the President of the State of Palestine; and H.E. Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy.
The Assembly formally welcomed President Évariste Ndayishimiye as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026 and launched the AU Theme of the Year 2026: “Ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”
Peace and Security
The Assembly took note of the Report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the state of peace and security in Africa and expressed deep concern over the persistence of conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, and humanitarian crises in parts of the continent.
Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the Union’s unwavering commitment to zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government and reiterated the determination to silence the guns in Africa. The Assembly underscored the imperative of predictable, sustainable and flexible financing for AU-led peace support operations.
The Assembly adopted the Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) on the utilization of the African Standby Force, calling for strengthened coordination and operational readiness.
Institutional Reform and Governance
The Assembly considered the Report on AU Institutional Reforms and reaffirmed the commitment to consolidating a people-centered, efficient, accountable and financially sustainable Union.
It took note of the Annual Report of the Chairperson of the Commission and adopted the reports of various Assembly Committees, including those relating to Africa CDC, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), AUDA-NEPAD, the Committee of Ten (C-10) on UN Security Council Reform, CAHOSCC, the AfCFTA, and the High-Level Committee on Libya.
The Assembly reaffirmed Africa’s Common Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council and reiterated its demand for equitable representation of Africa in global governance institutions.
