On Saturday, Vice President Kashim Shettima joined fellow African leaders at the commencement of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit marked the official transition of the AU chairmanship to President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi for the term of 2026, following the tenure of President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço from Angola.
The opening session was attended by nearly 49 heads of state and government, alongside prominent leaders from global and regional organizations, and development partners, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In his welcome address, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali called for unity among African leaders to foster the continent’s socio-economic development. He underscored Ethiopia’s investments in intelligent agriculture and renewable energy initiatives aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for its population exceeding 130 million.
During his remarks, Secretary-General Guterres expressed solidarity with Africa and emphasized the collaborative relationship between the United Nations and the AU, founded on mutual respect, dialogue, and a unified dedication to justice and equality.
He acknowledged the support received from the African Group at the UN and assured that Africa's journey towards peace, security, and sustainable development would be prioritized.
President Lourenço, the outgoing AU Chairperson, reviewed key achievements during his time in office, outlining water and sanitation, climate change, and peace and security as pivotal areas for discussion during the summit, aptly themed: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Lourenço highlighted the AU’s advancement in promoting inclusive growth, critical infrastructure development, and enhancing human capital. He stressed the importance of reinforcing the Union’s security and conflict-resolution mechanisms to counter fresh threats across the continent.
Following the leaders’ presentations and the formal handing over of leadership to President Ndayishimiye, the gathering shifted to a private session after the customary family photograph.
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