By Paul Fauvet in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (MOZTIMES) - The heads of state summit of the African Union, meeting in Addis Ababa, on Friday elected Burundian President Evariste Ndatishimya as chairperson of the AU for 2026, taking over from Angolan President Joao Lourenco.
Lourenco officially opened the summit by calling for accelerated action to ensure sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, the 2026 AU theme, describing access to water as a political, moral and strategic priority essential for Africa’s development, public health, food security and stability.
Reflecting on Angola’s year as AU Chair, Lourenço highlighted progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilizing investment for infrastructure, strengthening continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting reforms to improve AU efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.
On peace and security, President Lourenço stressed that Africa’s development depends on “silencing the guns” and addressing ongoing conflicts, particularly in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as combating terrorism in the Sahel and Horn of Africa. He reaffirmed the AU’s rejection of unconstitutional changes of government and warned against legitimizing coups through subsequent elections.
He concluded by urging African leaders to adopt measurable commitments that deliver tangible results for citizens and reinforce a resilient, integrated and prosperous Africa aligned with Agenda 2063.
Addressing the summit, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, framed the summit around the 2026 theme of water and sanitation, describing access to water as a collective good that must promote both development and peace. He stressed that the meeting comes at a time of mounting geopolitical turbulence, with persistent conflicts, institutional fragility and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government across parts of the continent. Against a backdrop of weakening multilateralism and rising global polarization, Youssouf urged Member States to accelerate political and economic integration under the guiding vision of Agenda 2063.
He also stressed that institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines. He called for stronger domestic resource mobilization and faster implementation of continental flagship programmes, particularly industrialization, agricultural transformation, energy development and infrastructure expansion, which he described as essential conditions for sustainable growth.
The AUC Chairperson concluded by expressing solidarity with populations affected by conflict, citing crises in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, as well as the suffering of the Palestinian people. He reaffirmed that respect for international law and humanitarian law remains fundamental to global peace and called for determined, collective action to secure a stronger, more autonomous and prosperous Africa. (PF)
