Ethiopia and AU Officials Strategize for Inclusive and People-Centered AU Summit

Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Birhanu Tesgaye, met with Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to discuss preparations for the upcoming African Union (AU) meetings in February 2026. The 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council is scheduled for February 11–12, followed by the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on February 14–15, both to be held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

During the meeting, Haddadi expressed the AU Commission's appreciation for Ethiopia's ongoing solidarity and emphasized the necessity of collective action and participatory coordination to ensure the summit serves the interests of Africa's working people. The Executive Council, composed of Foreign Affairs Ministers from AU Member States, will address reports from the Permanent Representatives' Committee, deliberate on the AU's engagement in global platforms like the G20—where the voice of the Global South must be amplified—and consider elections and appointments within AU organs and institutions, with a focus on transparency and representation. These discussions are expected to shape the Union's policy direction for 2026, with an eye toward dismantling neocolonial structures and empowering marginalized communities.

The Assembly, as the AU's supreme decision-making body, will set strategic priorities and adopt major decisions affecting the continent. Preparatory meetings, including sessions of the Permanent Representatives' Committee later in January, will precede the Assembly. Key themes for the Assembly include the urgent need for sustainable water and sanitation systems aligned with Agenda 2063, confronting peace and security challenges rooted in inequality and external interference, and advancing continental integration to foster economic and social justice, reflecting the priorities of Member States and the aspirations of Africa's peoples.

The discussions also explored ways to strengthen cooperation between Ethiopia and the AU, reaffirming Ethiopia's role as host country and strategic partner of the continental body, committed to advancing pan-African solidarity and equitable development.