Shettima attends 39th AU summit as Burundi’s Ndayishimiye assumes as new chairman
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday joined African leaders and international partners at the opening of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the summit also witnessed the formal handover of the AU chairmanship to Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, who assumed office as Chairman for 2026, succeeding Angola’s President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
No fewer than 49 Heads of State and Government, alongside leaders of global and regional organisations and development partners, attended the opening session. Among them were the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
In his welcome address, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali, urged African leaders to remain united in advancing the continent’s socio-economic transformation. The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” focused on critical development priorities, including water access and sanitation.
Prime Minister Abiy highlighted Ethiopia’s investments in smart agriculture and climate-friendly energy, noting that the country is working to secure a sustainable future for its population of over 130 million.
Addressing the gathering, UN Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the strong partnership between the UN and the African Union, describing Africa’s support within the global body as steadfast and deeply valued. He pledged continued UN commitment to Africa’s progress in peace, security and sustainable development.
In his valedictory remarks, President Lourenço presented a scorecard of his tenure as AU Chairperson, identifying water and sanitation, climate change, peace and security as key priorities during his stewardship. He said the AU had recorded progress in promoting inclusive growth, infrastructure development and human capital advancement.
On peace and security, Lourenço stressed the need to strengthen the AU’s mechanisms for security and conflict resolution to effectively address emerging threats across the continent. He assured that the union would sustain efforts aimed at stabilising conflict-affected regions.
