The 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly concluded in Addis Ababa on a note of realism. Faced with an increasingly polarized world, the pan-African organization abandoned grand diplomatic pronouncements to focus on concrete levers of stability: water management, global governance reform, and institutional autonomy.

1. "Blue Gold": A National Security Priority

The theme for 2026, focused on sustainable water supply and sanitation, is no longer simply a development option, but a survival imperative .

1. The alarming finding: 400 million Africans do not have access to clean drinking water and 800 million lack basic hygiene services.
2. The geopolitical issue: The AU now recognizes that the scarcity of water resources is a driver of conflict, particularly in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
3. The answer: The Union advocates integrated management of cross-border resources to defuse regional tensions and achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063 .

2. An offensive diplomacy for global reform

The summit was marked by a desire to break with passivity on the international stage.

1. UN Security Council reform: UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined African leaders in calling the lack of a permanent seat for Africa "indefensible".
2. Mastering the narrative: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged the continent to move from a reactive to an active participation, citing technological autonomy (AI) as the foundation of sovereignty.
3. Voice at the G20: With its permanent seat, the AU intends to have an impact on debt restructuring and climate justice.

3. Political Transition and Doctrine of Firmness

The summit saw the handover between Angolan João Lourenço and Burundian Évariste Ndayishimiye , the new president in office of the Union for 2026.

Zero Tolerance: The Assembly reaffirmed its absolute opposition to unconstitutional changes of government. João Lourenço specifically warned against the "parody of legitimizing" coups d'état through elections organized after the fact.

To support its peacekeeping missions (Sudan, DRC, Sahel), the AU is now relying on:

1. Strengthening the Peace and Security Council (PSC) .
2. Seeking independent funding to reduce dependence on external partners.

4. Economic Integration and Historical Justice

Accelerating the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) remains the economic priority to counter global geopolitical fragmentation.

Finally, a strong memorial dimension marked this session: the examination of colonization as a crime against humanity . Leaders stressed that African dignity and the success of Agenda 2063 depend on restorative justice and a clear-eyed acknowledgment of the past (slavery, deportations).

Key takeaways

The 39th session marks the AU's determination to break free from dependency. Under Ndayishimiye's presidency, Africa is attempting to transform its structural challenges (water, infrastructure) into opportunities for regional cohesion. The road ahead is long, but the course toward pragmatic sovereignty has now been set.