Burundi’s Ndayishimiye elected AU Chair as leaders put water security at centre stage
African leaders have elected President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026, as the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government opened in Addis Ababa with renewed calls for unity, institutional reform and water security across the continent.
The two-day summit, held at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, is convened under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” The theme places water security at the heart of Africa’s development agenda, linking it to public health, food systems and peace.
Opening the Assembly, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, framed the discussions around the urgency of guaranteeing access to water and sanitation as a shared continental priority. He described water as a collective good that must underpin both development and stability.
He told leaders that the summit was taking place amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty, marked by persistent conflicts, institutional fragility and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in parts of Africa. He warned that weakening multilateralism and rising global polarisation required Africa to accelerate political and economic integration in line with Agenda 2063.
“Institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines,” he stated.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged member states to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and expedite the implementation of flagship continental programmes, including industrialisation, agricultural transformation, energy expansion and infrastructure development. He noted that Africa’s youth, women and civil society were demanding measurable progress and tangible outcomes in what he described as a decisive decade for Agenda 2063.
He also expressed solidarity with populations affected by conflict, referencing crises in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, as well as the suffering of the Palestinian people. Respect for international and humanitarian law, he stressed, remains fundamental to global peace.
Outgoing AU Chair and President of Angola, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, formally opened the summit, calling for accelerated action on water availability and sanitation. He described access to water as a political, moral and strategic imperative central to Africa’s stability and development.
Reflecting on Angola’s tenure as Chair, President Lourenço highlighted efforts to advance Agenda 2063, mobilise investment for infrastructure and strengthen continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area. He also pointed to reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the AU and reducing bureaucracy.
On peace and security, he reiterated that sustainable development depended on “silencing the guns,” citing conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as terrorism in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. He reaffirmed the Union’s rejection of unconstitutional changes of government and cautioned against legitimising coups through subsequent elections.
The summit also heard from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who urged African nations to move from reacting to global developments to actively shaping the global agenda, particularly as the AU approaches its 25th anniversary. He called for greater unity and confidence, stressing that sovereignty includes control over Africa’s technological and narrative future. He referenced Ethiopia’s establishment of an Artificial Intelligence institute and plans for an AI university as part of that vision.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between the UN and the AU, describing multilateral partnership as essential for peace, security and sustainable development. He reiterated support for reform of the UN Security Council to enhance African representation and emphasised the need for equitable access to development financing and industrial growth.
The Assembly formally elected President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi as AU Chairperson for 2026, succeeding Angola’s João Lourenço under the Union’s rotating leadership system.
The new Bureau of the Assembly for 2026 will comprise Burundi as Chair representing Central Africa, Ghana as First Vice-Chair representing West Africa, Tanzania as Second Vice-Chair representing East Africa, a Third Vice-Chair from North Africa to be confirmed, and Angola as Rapporteur representing Southern Africa.
Deliberations at the summit are expected to continue with a focus on water security, institutional reform and pressing peace and security challenges across the continent, as leaders seek to align continental priorities with the long-term ambitions of Agenda 2063.
