NIGERIA: VP Shettima Joins African Leaders At Opening Of 39th AU Summit In Addis Ababa

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday.

The summit marked the official handover of the AU chairmanship, with President Evariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi assuming office as the new Chairperson for 2026.

He succeeds President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola, who concluded his tenure.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, host of the event, delivered a keynote address under the theme Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.

He called on African leaders to unite in championing the continent’s socio-economic transformation, stressing the urgency of addressing water and sanitation challenges to drive sustainable development.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United Nations and the African Union.

He highlighted the consistent support of the African Group at the UN, describing it as unwavering and decisive on matters of justice, equality, and global initiatives.

Outgoing AU Chairperson President Lourenço of Angola reflected on his leadership period, noting significant progress in inclusive growth, critical infrastructure development, and human capital enhancement through collaboration among member states.

The plenary session featured remarks from representatives of regional blocs and development partners, culminating in the formal assumption of office by President Ndayishimiye.

Vice President Shettima joined other heads of delegation in witnessing the transition and engaging in discussions aligned with the summit’s focus on water security and Agenda 2063 implementation.

The 39th AU Summit continues in Addis Ababa with further deliberations on continental priorities, including peace, security, economic integration, a

nd climate resilience.