Ghana Elected First Vice Chair of African Union at 39th AU Summit
Ghana has been elected First Vice Chair of the African Union (AU) for 2026 at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, currently underway at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” opened with strong calls for African solidarity, financial independence, institutional reform, and a united continental voice in shaping global affairs.
New AU Leadership for 2026
During the session, Heads of State elected H.E. President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026, succeeding Angola’s President João Lourenço.
The newly constituted Bureau of the Assembly for 2026 is as follows:
Chairperson: Republic of Burundi (Central Africa)
First Vice Chair: Ghana (West Africa)
Second Vice Chair: Tanzania (East Africa)
Third Vice Chair: To be confirmed (North Africa)
Rapporteur: Angola (Southern Africa)
Ghana’s election as First Vice Chair underscores the country’s growing diplomatic influence and active role in continental affairs.
Call for Reform and Financial Self-Reliance
Addressing the Assembly, Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, framed the summit around water security, describing access to water and sanitation as a collective public good essential for development and peace.
He noted that the summit is taking place amid mounting geopolitical tensions, persistent conflicts, institutional fragility, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in parts of Africa.
“Institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines,” he stated, urging Member States to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and accelerate the implementation of flagship Agenda 2063 programmes, including industrialization, agricultural transformation, energy development, and infrastructure expansion.
He also emphasized the need to meet rising expectations from Africa’s youth, women, and civil society, stressing that this decisive decade of Agenda 2063 must deliver measurable and tangible results.
Peace, Security and “Silencing the Guns”
Outgoing AU Chairperson and President of Angola, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, officially opened the summit, describing access to water as a political, moral, and strategic priority for Africa’s development, public health, food security, and stability.
Reflecting on Angola’s tenure, he highlighted progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilizing infrastructure investment, strengthening the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and improving AU institutional efficiency.
On peace and security, President Lourenço stressed that Africa’s development depends on “silencing the guns,” citing ongoing 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 AU’s firm rejection of unconstitutional changes of government and cautioned against legitimizing coups through subsequent elections.
Africa’s Global Role and Technological Future
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Africa to transition from reacting to global developments to actively shaping the global agenda as the AU approaches its 25th anniversary.
He emphasized unity, confidence, and greater continental influence, noting that true sovereignty includes owning Africa’s narrative and technological future. He highlighted Ethiopia’s establishment of an Artificial Intelligence institute and plans to launch an AI university as part of that vision.
Strengthening UN–AU Partnership
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of deepening the strategic partnership between the UN and the AU, describing multilateral cooperation as essential to achieving peace, security, and sustainable development.
He reiterated support for reforming the UN Security Council to ensure stronger African representation and emphasized the need for equitable access to financing, industrialization, and sustainable development support for African nations.
Focus on Water Security
The 39th AU Summit continues with high-level deliberations centered on water security and sanitation, alongside pressing peace and security concerns across the continent.
The election of Ghana as First Vice Chair further positions the country at the heart of continental decision-making as Africa pursues institutional reform, financial autonomy, and the transformative vision of Agenda 2063.
