African Union elects new chairman

Burundi will lead with impartiality and strengthen the continent’s voice on the international stage, President Evariste Ndayishimiye has pledged

Burundi has formally taken over the rotating chairmanship of the African Union (AU) for 2026, pledging unity and cooperation as the continental body grapples with persistent security and development challenges.

The East African country’s president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, was elected AU chairperson during the bloc’s summit in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday, succeeding Angolan President Joao Lourenco.

The chairmanship of the 55-nation bloc rotates annually among member states, with the elected leader tasked with representing the continent in major international forums, steering the implementation of the AU’s strategic priorities, and helping coordinate mediation efforts during crises.

The summit, held under the theme “Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of agenda 2063,” also elected Ghana as first vice chair and Tanzania as second vice chair in the new AU Bureau.

In his acceptance remarks, Ndayishimiye said Burundi will lead “in a spirit of listening, impartiality, and cooperation with all… for the good of all member states,” stressing the need to build consensus on critical issues across the continent.

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He urged member states to step up commitments and investment in water and sanitation services, noting that inadequate access had worsened preventable diseases, reduced productivity and contributed to school dropout rates across Africa.

The Burundian leader also pledged to strengthen the continent’s voice in the international arena and actively contribute to building a fairer, more balanced and inclusive world.

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Outgoing Chair Joao Lourenco urged heads of state to intensify efforts to tackle armed conflicts and unconstitutional changes of government, issues that dominated his tenure. His year at the helm was marked by the continuing war in Sudan, instability across parts of the Sahel, and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Great Lakes region between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Addis Ababa summit, the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, also focused on historical justice, including slave trade and crimes committed during colonial rule.

In a statement, the AU reiterated the importance of “historical justice, truth, remembrance, reparatory justice, and the preservation of the dignity of African peoples.”