Overview of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly

The 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly took place on 14–15 February 2026 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit, held in the Mandela Conference Hall, gathered heads of state from across the 55 member states to establish continental priorities for the year.

Attendance and special guests

The session saw a high-level presence from African leaders, including outgoing Chairperson João Lourenço of Angola and the newly elected 2026 Chairperson, President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi. Notable international guests included the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended as a guest of honour and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

Key issues and what was at stake

The central focus was the polycrisis facing the continent, specifically addressing how to translate declarations into tangible development. Key stakes included:

• Water and food security: Recognised as a moral and strategic priority essential for public health and stability.
• Institutional reform: Addressing the AU financial autonomy and reducing dependency on external aid.
• Peace and security: Deliberations on resurfacing unconstitutional changes of government and chronic regional conflicts.

The nature of cooperation

A significant theme of the 2026 summit, spearheaded by guest of honour Giorgia Meloni, was a redefined model of cooperation. This new chapter in bilateral relations moves away from traditional aid and an emergency-driven or paternalistic approach.

• It is not aid: The focus is on investment-led, partnership-based engagement.
• No looking down: Cooperation is grounded in respect for national sovereignty and mutual benefit.
• Equal partnership: The Italian Mattei Plan was presented as a model for equal partnerships with shared responsibility and measurable results, aiming to build things together rather than imposing solutions.

Speeches and reception

• Most received: UN Secretary-General António Guterres received strong support for his calls to reform the UN Security Council to include permanent African representation. Prime Minister Meloni’s speech was noted for its focus on debt reform and a strategic bridge between Europe and Africa.
• Least received/Contentious: Discussions regarding the AU import levy for self-financing remained difficult, with uneven implementation amongst member states causing friction.

Agreements and disagreements

• Agreed: The Assembly officially launched the 2026 theme and the Africa Water Vision 2063. There was consensus on accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• Disagreed: While there was agreement on the need for peace, specific strategies to handle unconstitutional changes of government and the stalemate on certain regional leadership roles remained points of contention.

African Union theme for 2026

The official theme is: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.

Implications for the new US focus

The AU clear pivot toward investment-readiness and water-energy-food infrastructure aligns with the broader shift from aid to trade. For the US, this implies:

• Commercial engagement: Opportunities to move from donor-led projects to commercial infrastructure investment.
• Strategic competition: With Italy and the EU aggressively pushing the Mattei Plan investment model, the US may need to enhance its own trade frameworks to remain a preferred partner.

Implications for social workers and development practitioners

In 2026, practitioners in Africa will face a changed landscape:

• Sectoral priority: A massive shift in funding and policy toward water, sanitation, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Technical shift: A move toward blended finance and results-based projects rather than traditional charity models.
• Community management: Practitioners will be increasingly tasked with empowering local communities to manage their own resources sustainably to avoid long-term donor dependency.