Vice President Kashim Shettima joined fellow African heads of state and government on Saturday for the opening of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
The summit marked the formal handover of the AU chairmanship to President Évariste Ndayishimiye for the 2026 term, succeeding outgoing Chairperson President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
The opening session drew no fewer than 49 heads of state and government, alongside leaders from global and regional institutions, development partners, and dignitaries including António Guterres and Giorgia Meloni.
In his welcome address, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali called on African leaders to unite in driving the continent’s socio-economic transformation.
He highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing investments in smart agriculture and climate-friendly energy projects as part of efforts to secure a sustainable future for the country’s population of over 130 million.
Delivering remarks at the summit, UN Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the global body’s commitment to Africa, praising the partnership between the United Nations and the AU as grounded in respect, dialogue, and a shared dedication to justice and equality.
He lauded the African Group’s support at the UN and pledged that Africa’s path toward peace, security, and sustainable development would remain a priority for the organisation.
Outgoing AU Chairperson Lourenço presented a review of his tenure, highlighting water and sanitation, climate change, and peace and security as key focus areas for the summit, which carried the Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Lourenço noted progress in promoting inclusive growth, infrastructure development, and human capital advancement, while emphasising the need to strengthen the AU’s mechanisms for security and conflict resolution to address emerging threats across the continent.
After the formal assumption of office by President Ndayishimiye and a traditional family photograph, the summit moved into a closed-door session for further discussions among participating leaders.
The gathering underscores the AU’s ongoing efforts to foster regional cooperation, sustainable development, and peace, while highlighting Africa’s strategic partnerships with global institutions and development partners.
