Thank you, your excellencies. You may sit down. Excellency Joao Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union. His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Excellencies, heads of state and government of member states of the African Union, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Excellency Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellency Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine. Excellencies, former heads of states here present, our honorable first ladies present here in this hall. Excellency Selma Malika Hadidi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Excellencies, ministers, excellencies, commissioners, and the entire leadership of the African Union, excellencies, honorable ambassadors and permanent representatives of member states of the African Union and international partners. His Excellency Faki, the director general of the African Union Commission, heads of organs and specialized agencies of the African Union, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, heads of regional economic communities, excellencies, heads of specialized institutions of the United Nations and international organizations here present. Excellencies, heads of African financial institutions, distinguished guests, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen, all protocol observed. Good morning to you all. It is an immense pleasure for me to welcome you here to the opening ceremony of the 39th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of States, taking place here today at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, the capital of Africa. This session, which is a very important one, is the first of its kind since the election of the new leadership of the African Union Commission last year, February 2025. This offers an opportunity for constructive discussions on the progress made so far. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the program of our opening ceremony will be as follows. First and foremost, we are going to listen to the statements that will be made respectively by his Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, his Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, his Excellency Antonio Guterres, his Excellency Mohammad Mustafa, Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, and His Excellency Joao Manuel Goncalves. These statements will be followed by the announcement of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union for the year 2026. And in this vein, his Excellency Joao Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola and the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union will make his handing over statement as the outgoing chair of the African Union. And after that, his Excellency, President of the Republic of Burundi, the incoming chairperson, will also make his own acceptance statement. These statements, your excellencies, will be followed by the presentation and the launch of the African Union theme of the year 2026, that is, guarantee the sustainable availability of water and help to meet the objectives of Agenda 2063. That said, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is my singular honor and pleasure to invite his Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, to make his opening statement.
Excellency Joao Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola and Chair of the African Union. Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Ladies and gentlemen, heads of state and government, Excellency Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Honorable Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, UN Secretary General, representatives of Pan-African institutions, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, I would like to wish you a very happy new year 2026. I also want to wish you all a warm welcome to the African Union, especially the newly elected heads of state. Permit me also to congratulate and thank President Lourenco of Angola for his chairship of the Union in 2025, which has given a new fillip to our continental agenda. The 39th summit of the African Union, ladies and gentlemen, is based on the theme of water and sanitation, which is key to our economies and which is a collective good which should be a source of peace and cooperation among nations. Our summit is taking place against the backdrop of a crisis in the world and on the continent, and our policy of silencing the guns is far from becoming a reality, and the open or latent conflicts are chronic. The coup d'état also reminds us of the post-obscure post-independence period. The change in the international order significantly impacts the affairs of the continent, without forgetting the interference in our affairs by externalities. Multilateralism is sorely tested and we are witnessing the emergence of unilateralism and protectionism. In the face of these, Africa should scale up its cooperation through the enhancing of its integration and cooperation programs. Pan-African institutions should intensify their efforts and determination. The AU, AfCFTA, Africa CDC and other mechanisms of Africans should work together. We request African financial institutions, Afreximbank, the African Development Bank and African Bank to work together. Ladies and gentlemen, regional economic communities also have to scale up their operations. By 2050, Africa should be able to rival with the major economies. Agenda 2063 should guide us toward the Africa that we want: a strong, autonomous and prosperous Africa. These are not pious wishes but an imperative for survival, and the major countries in the world are preparing for the polarization of this world. Africa is in the global south, but Africa has its own hallmark and its own identity. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the reform of the institution should continue. The mobilization of domestic resources to finance the programs of the continent is not an option. It's urgent in the face of external threats. Our youth on the continent are impatient and our women want more equality. Our civil society is positioning itself. So it's crucial to expedite the industrialization of the continent and the transformation of agriculture, and that will only be possible if we develop the energy potential of Africa and also create the necessary infrastructure. These are the prerequisites for the economic development of the continent expected. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the projects are complex and many, and we also know the challenges. You are confronted with these challenges on a daily basis in your respective countries. The African Union Commission, which I head, will spare no efforts to advance this agenda. This is a long-term work and we need to ensure that our action is sustainable. The 5-year 2022-2028 plan has been launched. The Agenda 2063 decade should be characterized by a high level of performance and execution. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it's also important to focus on the suffering of our people, victims of war, injustice, displacement, and we cannot avoid their daily challenges. From the Sudan to the Sahel to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and elsewhere, our people continue to bear the brunt of instability. In the Middle East, Palestine, the suffering of Palestinians also calls on us to act. The suffering of those who see that international law and international humanitarian law are the basis of the international community. Preserving and promoting them will be the only pathway to ensuring peace in the world. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you every success in your deliberations. Thank you.
Thank you, Excellency, and we warmly welcome the Prime Minister of the State of Palestine who has joined. We also acknowledge His Excellency Madame Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, and who is also one of the Africans most known in this commission. So welcome. So it's an immense privilege to invite His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, to deliver his statement. Excellency, you have the floor.
Your Excellency Chairperson of the African Union, Excellency Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Your Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, Your Excellency Madame Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, former heads of state and government present, distinguished ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, ladies and gentlemen. I warmly welcome you to Ethiopia, a land where human origins are traced, where time is measured differently, where coffee was first shared with the world. A place where deep history, proven resilience, and bold ambition for Africa's future converge. Today, as Africa gazes at a defining moment, we recognize that our continent's most strategic asset is not only what we extract, but what we design, build, and govern. Progress is achieved when vision is translated into systems and ideas into lasting institutions. As we build on the African water vision 2025, we reflect on a simple truth. Water is more than a resource. It is a foundation of development, innovation, and stability. It shapes our cities, our farms, our health and our peace. Here in Ethiopia, we have learned that responsible water management is central to guiding development wisely. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam now powers homes and industry, exports electricity to neighboring countries, and shows how African ingenuity can drive shared prosperity across Africa. Rivers can become engines of stability when governed for shared benefit. On our land, targeted policy and innovation have enabled wheat self-sufficiency, and large-scale industrial investments are moving us from dependency to production. Excellencies, today many African economies are among the fastest growing in the world. Projections show that Africa's growth will be on par, if not above, that of Asia. This is a rare convergence in modern economic history. In Ethiopia, we expect growth of 10.2% by the end of this year. Over the next 25 years, we aim to move from a low-income economy to a globally competitive one, anchored in productivity, industrialization, innovation, and quality jobs. Yet, growth alone is not enough. Our greatest wealth is our people. By 2035, Africa will add more young people to the global workforce than the rest of the world combined. This demographic reality must be harnessed with purpose. Numbers alone will not deliver prosperity. That's why we are investing in maternal and child health, expanding early childhood education, and scaling school feeding programs. Every child must arrive at school nourished, ready to learn and prepared to contribute. We also strongly believe development must include all. Across Ethiopia, urban and rural areas are being transformed, designed to be green, human-centered and resilient. Excellencies, in Addis Ababa, Riverside renewal has transformed degraded waterways into clean, vibrant public spaces, reducing flood risk, restoring dignity, and strengthening community life. As Africa's urban landscape expands rapidly, we must be intentional. The African city of the future is walkable, green, youth-centered, and grounded in dignity and belonging. In rural areas, modernization is enhancing livelihoods, connecting communities to markets. This integrated approach links development with climate stewardship. One expression of this is the Green Legacy Initiative. We have planted more than 48 billion trees, restoring ecosystems and building a living legacy for future generations. Yet the global development pathway has come at immense environmental costs borne by communities far beyond those responsible. Therefore, climate action must be anchored in justice and equity, aligning finance, technology, and partnership to enable Africa to thrive. In this spirit, we hosted the second Africa Climate Summit and we are preparing to host COP 32, ensuring Africa speaks with one voice and presents solutions to the globe. This same principle of integration guides our technological transformation. Under Digital Ethiopia 2030, we're building digital public infrastructure that places citizens at the center of service delivery. By linking FIDA, our national digital ID, with payment systems and the mass of data exchange, we enable secure access to services, seamless transactions, and responsible data sharing, fostering trust and driving our economy forward. In 2020, Ethiopia established Africa's first artificial intelligence institute. Building on this foundation, we are preparing to launch an AI university anchored in the Ethiopian philosophy of 'Madam Synergy' through purposeful collaboration. This institution will unite human values with machine intelligence, local context with global relevance, and scientific rigor with applied impact. It will ensure technology drives growth and position Africa as a global contributor in the age of intelligence. Ethiopia is also continuing to invest in connectivity. Through Ethiopian Airlines, we connect people, link markets, and move goods. To sustain this momentum, we are building Africa's largest airport, a next-generation gateway that will anchor our continent in global value chains. Beyond aviation, Ethio Telecom is expanding across Africa, bridging the digital divide and linking our continent's future through strategic partnerships. Yet connectivity must be complete. For a nation like Ethiopia with over 130 million people, sustainable growth requires diversified access. Ensuring reliable access to the sea through peaceful cooperation is fundamental to our economic future and to long-term stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa. Excellencies, we meet at a moment of profound global transition. In this era of uncertainty, Africa's strength will lie in a union that is confident and united. As we approach the African Union's silver jubilee, the moment marks a transition from foundational unity to functional sovereignty. Sovereignty means owning our narratives. Through initiatives like Pulse of Africa, we amplify African voices because development is never complete without our story. Africa can contribute stability, scale, and solutions to a changing world. But we must do more than respond to crisis. We must shape agendas, turning vision into action and leading with purpose. Every river we manage, every city we design, and every digital platform we deploy must generate resilient opportunity and dignity. By 2063, Africa will be defined by what we secure, what we sustain, and what we share. Ladies and gentlemen, this is our moment, and this is our responsibility. To conclude, I extend my appreciation to our outgoing Chairperson, President Joao Lourenco, for his leadership and service to our Union. I also warmly congratulate our new incoming Chairperson and wish him success in guiding Africa forward. God bless Ethiopia. God bless Africa. I thank you.
Thank you very much, Excellency. We now have the singular honor of inviting His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, to deliver his statement. Excellency, you have the floor.
President of the Republic of Angola, Chairperson, distinguished heads of state and government, Chairperson Moussa Faki of the Commission of the African Union, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. In a world filled with division and mistrust, the African Union is a flagship for multilateralism. My gratitude runs deep. I will carry with me always the unwavering, decisive support of the African group in the UN on issue after issue, initiative after initiative in the shared struggle for justice and equality. Your solidarity has not only strengthened our efforts, it has moved me deeply and I will never forget it. From day one of my mandate, we forged the UN partnership with the African Union rooted in respect, constant dialogue, and unwavering solidarity. Over the last decade, our cooperation has reached new heights. Joint frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, collaboration during COVID-19, important new partnerships, and the landmark adoption of Security Council resolution 2719, creating a pathway for predictable funding for AU-led peace support operations. We have been honored to support the priorities from silencing the guns to the African Humanitarian Agency to the promotion of inclusive political transitions. And we have stood with Africa as you lead global demands for justice, confronting the legacy of slavery and colonialism, including your call for reparatory justice frameworks, championing the sustainable development goals, driving climate ambition, and strengthening multilateralism for the 21st century through the reforms of the global financial architecture and at long last the Security Council. The absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council is indefensible. This is 2026, not 1946. Whatever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table. Excellencies, these priorities inform the Pact for the Future shaped by African leadership and the UN80 initiative to strengthen UN support to Africa and beyond. Looking ahead, we continue to have three major areas of focus. First, peace. In Sudan, the parties must commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities and resume talks towards a lasting ceasefire and comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process. In South Sudan, the AU's high-level Ad Hoc Committee provides an important chance to revive political dialogue and prevent renewed conflict. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commitments must be honored starting with an immediate ceasefire and the respect of the territorial integrity of the DRC. In the Central African Republic, political and security gains must be consolidated. And in Libya, all actors must advance a Libyan-led process supported by the United Nations Support Mission. Across West Africa and the Sahel, coordinated efforts are essential to end cycles of violence, terrorism, and displacement. And in Somalia, sustained and predictable funding for the AU support and stabilization mission is vital. I regret the Security Council's lack of consensus for finance through assessed contributions. If the mission of the AU in Somalia did not warrant global support, what would? More broadly, we are reviewing peace operations to ensure mandates are realistic, sequenced, and well-resourced and supported by clear transition strategies. Excellencies, third, climate action. Your theme underlines the urgency of resilient water and sanitation systems in a warming planet. The science is unequivocal. The planet will overshoot the 1.5°C limit. Our common task is to make that overshoot as small, short, and safe as possible. The G20 accounts for close to 80% of global emissions and they must deliver major reductions this decade. Meanwhile, Africa with 60% of the world's best solar potential can become a clean energy powerhouse. Yet, Africa receives only 2% of global clean energy investment. After contributing almost nothing to the crisis, Africa faces faster than average warming. Adaptation must be a priority. And that requires developed countries tripling adaptation finance and mobilizing the 1.3 trillion US dollars a year for developing countries by 2035 as agreed in Baku. Scaling up the loss and damage funds and accelerating a just, orderly and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables, expanding early warning systems, and ensuring African countries benefit first and fully from their critical minerals through fair, sustainable value chains and manufacturing. In line with recommendations of the UN panel on critical energy transition minerals. No more exploitation. No more plundering. The people of Africa must benefit from the resources of Africa. Excellencies, your leadership and solidarity have shaped my mission as Secretary General every step of the way. Let's keep going, strengthening our partnership for peace, sustainable development, and human rights for Africa and our world. And allow me a final observation. Some have described my presence here as a farewell. It's not true. I can guarantee that until the last moment of my mandate, Africa will be the priority number one of the UN in all its activities and that the partnership between the African Union and the UN will be our deepest strategic partnership. And after the 31st of December, I can guarantee that wherever I will be, whatever I will be doing, in the center of my concerns and of my active solidarity, there will be Africa always. Africa first. I thank you very much. Excellency.
It is an honor to invite His Excellency Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, in order to address this August assembly. Excellency, you have the floor.
