Africa: African Union Summit – African leaders arrive in Addis Ababa to attend the 39th session of the Assembly

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Addis Ababa, February 12 (Horn Diplomatic) — African Heads of State and Government continued to arrive in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday ahead of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, scheduled to officially open later this week.

The high-level summit, which will be held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, will be held under the slogan: “Ensuring the availability of sustainable water and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.” Leaders are expected to focus on water security, climate resilience, financing sustainable development and continental integration priorities for 2026.

Notable arrivals included King Letsie III of Lesotho, Samia Suluhu Hassan from Tanzania, Jessica Allobo from Uganda, and Mohammed BS Jallow from Gambia.

They were received at Bole International Airport by senior Ethiopian officials, including Minister of Innovation and Technology Bility Mola, Minister of Labor and Skills Mufriyat Kamel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, and others.

In a related context, King Letsie III, who holds the position of African Union Champion for Nutrition, visited Zodito Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa. The visit, accompanied by Ethiopian Health Minister Maqdis Daba and other officials, highlighted Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen child nutrition and comprehensive development programs within public health institutions.

Separately, Duma Gideon Boko, President of Botswana, arrived on Thursday afternoon to attend the assembly. He was received by representatives of the Ethiopian government while delegations continued to flow into the capital.

Later in the day, Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, arrived in Addis Ababa to participate in the summit. During the session, it is expected that Ndayishimiye will assume the rotating presidency of the African Union for the year 2026, succeeding the current President of the African Union, João Lourenço of Angola.

The meeting was also attended by Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, and João Lourenço, President of Angola in his capacity as the outgoing Chairman of the African Union. Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho, Justice Ntomeng Magara, also arrived to represent her government at the high-level meeting.

The thirty-ninth assembly follows the forty-eighth ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union currently held in Addis Ababa. More African leaders and senior delegates are expected to arrive as preparations for the official opening intensify.