Africa: The Executive Council of the African Union opens its 48th Ordinary Session with a strong call for unity, sustainable water management and accelerated continental integration

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The Forty-eighth (48th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union kicked off on Wednesday at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with a strong call to promote unity, sustainable development and collective action to address the pressing challenges facing the continent.

The two-day meeting, which includes the foreign ministers of the member states of the African Union, will be held under the slogan of this year’s African Union 2026: “Ensuring the availability of sustainable water and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”

In his speech before the Executive Council meeting, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mahmoud Ali YoussefHe stressed the critical importance of the 2026 Summit theme on water and sanitation, framing water as a vital collective resource that must be conserved amid climate change and leveraged as an instrument for peace and cooperation among member states. His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ali Yousef said: “In the face of marked climate disruption, the wise use of water in all aspects of daily life is a key necessity. This vital resource must be viewed as a collective good that must be preserved at all costs and as a means to bring our nations closer together and achieve peace.”

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission highlighted the ongoing reform efforts of the Commission, including the verified 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and the implementation of institutional reforms in coordination with the heroic President, His Excellency William Ruto.

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The Chairperson of the African Union Commission expressed his concern about political instability, security crises and unconstitutional changes of government, noting the progress made in Gabon and Guinea and setbacks in Madagascar and Guinea Bissau, while emphasizing the continuing terrorist threats in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission noted that “despite the setback and minimal progress, our mediators are active. Regarding the unconstitutional changes of government, I welcome the return to the constitutional order of the Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Guinea and their return to the African Union.”

On development, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission noted tangible progress through the African Continental Free Trade Area and specialized agencies, stressing the need for innovative financing and the inclusion of the private sector, civil society and philanthropic institutions. His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssef said: “The continent, more than ever, needs to take advantage of its tools to enhance the momentum of development and integration, think about innovative sources of financing and engage all actors, no matter how marginal they may appear.” He concluded his speech by urging focused and effective deliberations at the summit on strategic priorities.

His Excellency Ambassador Tite Antonio, Minister of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Angola and Chairman of the Executive Council, stressed that Angola played a leading continental role through its presidency of the African Union, leading intense diplomatic engagement and high-level consultations aimed at strengthening joint African action. His Excellency Ambassador Tite Antonio said: “Under Luanda’s leadership, the African Union has strengthened coordination on peace, security and development priorities, while laying important foundations for the 2026 AU Heads of State and Government Summit.” He further noted that Angola’s presidency was characterized by a firm commitment to strengthening African-led responses to common challenges, promoting greater unity among member states, and strengthening strategic partnerships across the continent.

His Excellency Gideon Timotheus (PhD), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia highlighted Africa’s achievements over the past year, including progress on Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and collective positions on UN Security Council reform and climate justice. He also addressed persistent challenges such as unconstitutional government changes, geopolitical competition affecting the continent, and external exploitation, stressing that true strength through unity is essential to defending African interests. The Minister called for renewed commitment to continental unity, equitable global partnerships, meaningful representation in international forums, and proactive African leadership, especially as Ethiopia prepares to host the thirty-second session of the Conference of the Parties, and urged collective action to achieve “the Africa we want.”

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Claver Gatete, stressed that Africa is facing a pivotal economic transformation where old development models relying on commodity exports and external financing are no longer viable. Against the backdrop of global economic fragmentation, tightening fiscal space, and climate challenges, he stressed that Africa’s development must be organized around its continental economic system, with the African Continental Free Trade Area as a central platform.

During its closed sessions, the Executive Council will consider the report of the fifty-first regular session of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, review the report on the AU’s participation in the G20, and conduct elections and appointments to key AU organs, including the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).