President John Dramani Mahama has been elected First Vice Chairperson of the African Union (AU) as Burundi's President Évariste Ndayishimiye formally assumes the rotating chairmanship for 2026.

The elections took place at the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with President Ndayishimiye taking over from Angola's João Lourenço.

The new Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for 2026 comprises representatives from all five African regions.

Burundi assumes the Chair representing Central Africa, with Ghana's President Mahama as First Vice representing West Africa. Tanzania takes the Second Vice position for East Africa, while Angola serves as Rapporteur for Southern Africa.

The Third Vice position for North Africa is yet to be confirmed.

Addressing the Assembly meeting, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf framed the summit around the 2026 theme of water and sanitation, describing access to water as a shared public good essential for both development and peace.

The two-day summit is being held under the theme "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf noted that the meeting comes at a time of increasing geopolitical turbulence, marked by persistent conflicts, institutional fragility, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in parts of the continent.

Against the backdrop of weakening multilateralism and rising global polarisation, he urged Member States to accelerate political and economic integration in line with the vision of Agenda 2063.

The Commission Chair made a strong call for African solidarity, financial independence, and a collective push to shape the global agenda.

President Mahama's election as First Vice Chair will see him work closely with the AU Chair in coordinating the continental body's activities and advancing its strategic priorities throughout 2026.

Ghana has historically played prominent roles in AU affairs, with former President John Kufuor having served as AU Chair in 2007.