The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) concluded on 15 February 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, drawing Heads of State and Government from across the continent to deliberate on Africa’s most urgent developmental, political, and security challenges. Convened against a backdrop of deep global economic shifts and pressing climate risks, this summit adopted a bold thematic agenda for the year, one that positions water and sanitation not merely as basic services but as engines of economic transformation.
Opening under the outgoing leadership of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the AU in 2025, delegates welcomed the assumption of the Chairmanship for 2026 by H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, signalling a renewed commitment to collective action and continental cooperation.
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At the heart of this year’s summit was a profound shift in how Africa perceives water’s role in its development trajectory. Adopting the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” AU leaders underscored that water is no longer a sectoral concern but a strategic economic asset linked to employment, health, food systems, climate resilience and industrial growth.
The AU’s long-term Agenda 2063 framework envisages an integrated future where water underpins the realisation of inclusive development, poverty eradication, and socio-economic integration. Summit communiqués highlighted that up to 80 per cent of ailments affecting Africa’s labour productivity are linked to inadequate sanitation, and that three out of four jobs across the continent are water-dependent, stark indicators of how deeply woven water security is into societal wellbeing and economic participation.
Leaders acknowledged that nearly 400 million Africans lack sufficient access to clean water, while over 800 million are without basic hygiene services, emphasising the immense scale of the challenge and the urgency of decisive action.
Beyond establishing water security as a central theme, the summit endorsed the Africa Water Vision 2026, a strategy promoting climate-resilient, inclusive water governance within the broader Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. This integrated approach aims to ensure that water policy supports robust food systems, reliable energy generation, ecosystem health and climate adaptation, all essential for sustainable growth.
In recognition of the scale of the challenge, discussions emphasised investment mobilisation and innovative financing for water infrastructure. Leaders called for collaborative frameworks that bring together public institutions, the private sector, local communities, youth groups and women’s organisations in designing and implementing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solutions that are not merely technical but socially embedded and sustainable.
A landmark outcome was the emergence of national WASH Compacts, formal commitments by member states to accelerate progress towards universal access by 2035. These compacts are envisioned as flexible, context-specific tools to align national policies, mobilise resources and track tangible progress.
Peace, Security and Continental Governance
While water was the summit’s defining priority, the Assembly did not shy away from other existential challenges facing the continent. Heads of State reaffirmed the AU’s zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government and reiterated the determination to “silence the guns” in Africa, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce conflicts in regions such as the Sahel, Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The summit took note of the latest report from the Peace and Security Council, expressing concern over persistent terrorism, violent extremism and humanitarian crises while calling for predictable, sustainable financing for peace support operations led by the AU and its regional partners.
Institutional reform and governance were also high on the agenda, with deliberations focused on strengthening AU bodies to be more efficient, accountable and financially sustainable. Leaders discussed frameworks aimed at enhancing continental integration, streamlining operations and empowering institutional mechanisms to respond swiftly to crises.
Africa’s Voice on the Global Stage
The 39th AU Summit was not inward-looking. Global perspectives were evident, notably with the participation of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who addressed the Assembly and emphasised the importance of reforming global governance architectures to give Africa a stronger voice, particularly within the United Nations Security Council. Guterres echoed calls by African leaders for a more equitable international order, noting that the continent’s demographic growth, peacekeeping contributions and economic potential warrant greater representation.
These discussions reflect a broader push by the AU to influence not only continental development but also the rules and norms of the global system that shape Africa’s external engagements, economic partnerships and security architectures.
Mobilising Collective Will for Tangible Results
As the summit drew to a close, there was a clear sense that 2026 must be a year of action, implementation and accountability. The chosen theme serves as a call to convert commitments into funded programmes, with water and sanitation positioned as catalysts for economic growth, health improvement and climate resilience. Member states were urged to translate summit resolutions into national strategies and practical interventions that deliver results for citizens.
In mapping a future where water security drives transformation, the AU signalled a departure from rhetoric to implementation, one that hinges on political will, cross-sector collaboration and resources that match the scale of Africa’s ambitions.
A Summit with Strong Resonance
The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union stands out not simply for its theme, but for its insistence that water security and sanitation are foundational pillars of Africa’s transformation. By anchoring development ambitions within Agenda 2063 and calling for regional cooperation, innovative financing and inclusive governance, the summit has charted a pathway that, if pursued with vigour, carries the promise of significant socio-economic gains across the continent.
In all, the Addis Ababa summit was a meeting that recognised both the magnitude of Africa’s challenges and its collective capacity to address them, anchored in unity, strategy and urgency.
