49th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council Opens in Addis Ababa

The Forty Ninth (49th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) officially opened today, 28 July 2026 to deliberate on a broad range of strategic agenda items aimed at advancing the African Union's priorities and the implementation of Agenda 2063. During the session, the council will exchange on the status of implementation of the AU Theme of the year: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve Agenda 2063" as well as consider a number of reports including the report of the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) and report of the Retreat of the AU on G20 engagements for 2026.

In his opening statement, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) welcomed the Foreign Affairs Ministers, Heads of AU Organs, Missions, UN Agencies, partners, dignitaries and invited guests to the Headquarters of the African Union Commission. He noted that the Executive Council was meeting at a time of heightened global uncertainty, characterized by complex geopolitical developments with significant implications for Africa's economies.

On regional peace and security, the AUC Chairperson expressed concerns over the continued spread of terrorism and violent extremism across parts of the continent. He recalled his recent solidarity visits to countries of the Sahel, reaffirming the AU's commitment to supporting Member States in addressing these shared security challenges. Addressing institutional and financial matters, the Chairperson expressed appreciation to the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) for its continued commitment to ensuring the effective functioning of the Commission. He also thanked the AU's international partners for their support in the implementation of the Union's programmes and priorities.

Chairperson Youssouf further reiterated that the Commission would continue to utilise all available multilateral platforms and partnerships to advance and advocate for Africa's priorities and expectations on the global stage, calling upon Member States to accelerate the ratification of outstanding AU legal instruments to strengthen the Union's institutional and legal architecture. AUC Chairperson also appealed for the continued support of African candidates seeking election to positions within international organisations, in accordance with the decisions submitted to the Executive Council for consideration.

Addressing the Council in his capacity as Chairperson of the Executive Council, H.E. Ambassador Édouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, stated that the challenges Africa is facing are numerous, however, Africa still asserts itself as a key player in world affairs, noting that "Our membership in the G20 marks a historic milestone and acknowledges the essential role our continent now plays in global economic governance", among others.

"Global governance without Africa is incomplete and therefore ineffective. Africa must now be a partner in solutions. The continent must free itself from the status of rule consumer to proudly and determinedly take on that of standard-maker," stressed Minister Bizimana, calling on the Member States to continue to defend, with one voice, the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which remain the foundation of Africa's common position on Security Council reform. "The progress made on the international stage strengthens our collective responsibility: to speak with a united voice and consistently defend our common interests on the international stage", concluded the Chairperson of the Executive Council.

H.E. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, welcomed the ministers and delegates to Addis Ababa. He stressed that the African Union should become a strategic actor capable of providing African solutions to global challenges. He said: "Our Union must serve as the institution through which Africa articulates its priorities and advances its interests. The Union should emerge as a credible and authentic voice of Africa." Highlighting interconnected priorities, Minister Timothewos outlined the need for political ownership and orientation of our reform processes ; the financial sustainability and independence of the Union and the strategic ownership and responsible management of Africa's resources.

H.E. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UNECA stressed that Africa must finance more of its development from within and informed the Council that ECA in response continues to promote domestic resource mobilization as the foundation of Africa's economic transformation. "We need to accelerate structural transformation, advance industrialization, expand productive capacities, deepen regional integration and mobilize resources at the scale required to deliver both the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa's Agenda 2063", underscored UNECA Executive Secretary.

For two days, this pivotal gathering will deliberate on a number of issues including the implementation of key initiatives and projects under Agenda 2063, which aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse of the future; and strategies to enhance access to clean water and sanitation across the continent, addressing critical challenges posed by climate change and urbanization etc.

The Executive Council in its closed sessions will further listen to the presentation of reports from the different Committees of the Executive Council and other Ministerial Committees including the Joint -Sitting of the Ministerial Committee on Scale of Assessment and the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15), The Ministerial Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of Agenda 2063, the Ministerial committee on African Candidatures within the International System and the Ministerial Committee on the Acceleration of the Ratification/Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties.

The Session will also consider the appointment of members of the African Union Board of External Auditors (BoEAs) and review the draft working documents and declaration of the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting between the AU, The Regional Economic Communities (RECs ) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

The Executive Council ends tomorrow July 29, 2026, with the adoption of the Decisions of the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

For more information please contact:

Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division, Information and Communication Directorate, and the Communication Adviser of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations (UN) | Email: [email protected] | Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)

Mrs. Rahel Akalewold| Information and Communication Directorate| WhatsApp +251 911 68 3737, E-mail: [email protected]