Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday joined dozens of African leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union, where President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi formally assumed office as Chairman of the continental body for 2026.
Ndayishimiye took over from Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço during a ceremony attended by 49 heads of state and government, alongside global partners including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima was said to be engaging actively with fellow leaders to advance Africa’s shared priorities and deepen cooperation across the continent.
The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” opened with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali urging African leaders to pursue unity and decisive action.
Abiy highlighted Ethiopia’s investments in smart agriculture and climate-friendly energy, noting that the country is working towards a sustainable future for its population of over 130 million people.
Guterres commended the partnership between the UN and the African Union, describing it as one built on mutual respect, dialogue and solidarity. He pledged continued UN support for Africa’s efforts in peacebuilding, security and sustainable development.
Outgoing AU Chairman Lourenço, in his valedictory remarks, pointed to strides made during his tenure in areas such as inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development, human capital advancement and resource mobilisation in line with Agenda 2063. He also called for stronger mechanisms to address security threats and conflicts across the continent.
The session ended with Ndayishimiye’s formal takeover and a group photograph of participating leaders before deliberations continued behind closed doors on key issues, including water and sanitation, climate change and regional security.
