In a landmark transition of power at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, President Évariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi has been formally elected as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2026.

Taking over the mantle from Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Ndayishimiye inherits a continent grappling with a resurgence of coups, declining external funding, and a critical need for basic infrastructure.

The summit, held at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, officially launched under a high-stakes theme: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."

A strategic pivot to water security

Outgoing Chair, President Lourenço, opened the session by framing the 2026 theme as more than an environmental issue, calling it a "political, moral and strategic priority". With millions of Africans still lacking access to clean water, the AU is positioning water security as a cornerstone for public health, food security, and regional stability.

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, reinforced this sentiment, describing water as a "collective good" that must be managed to promote peace rather than conflict, especially in regions facing geopolitical turbulence.

The 2026 Bureau: Ghana and Tanzania take key roles

Alongside the election of Burundi to the chairmanship, the Assembly confirmed the new Bureau of the Heads of State and Government, ensuring a balanced regional representation:

1. Chair: Republic of Burundi (Central Africa)
2. First Vice: Ghana (West Africa)
3. Second Vice: Tanzania (East Africa)
4. Third Vice: To be confirmed (North Africa)
5. Rapporteur: Angola (Southern Africa)

The inclusion of Ghana as the First Vice-Chair positions the West African nation at the forefront of continental decision-making during a period where the region faces significant security challenges in the Sahel.

Financial self-reliance and the 'AI' future

A recurring call throughout the summit was the need for Africa to divorce itself from its dependence on external donors. Chairperson Youssouf was blunt in his assessment: "Institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines."

He urged Member States to accelerate domestic resource mobilisation to fund the continent’s flagship industrialisation and energy programmes.

Adding a forward-looking technological edge to the discussions, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed challenged the continent to stop reacting to global events and start shaping them. He highlighted Ethiopia’s investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI), including plans for a dedicated AI university, as a blueprint for Africa owning its technological future.

"Silencing the Guns" remains elusive

Despite the focus on development, the shadow of conflict loomed large.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a show of solidarity, called for a stronger UN-AU strategic partnership and reiterated the urgent need for UN Security Council reform, specifically advocating for permanent African representation.

President Lourenço, reflecting on his tenure, noted that while progress was made through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the persistent "guns" in Sudan, the Eastern DRC, and the Sahel remain the biggest barriers to the 2063 vision. He issued a stern warning against "legitimising coups through subsequent elections," reaffirming the AU's zero-tolerance policy for unconstitutional changes of government.

As the 39th Summit continues, the focus remains on whether the new leadership can translate these high-level deliberations into "measurable commitments" that deliver tangible results for the continent’s rapidly growing youth population.