Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has been elected as the First Vice Chair of the African Union (AU) for 2026, positioning him to assume the AU Chairmanship in 2027. The announcement was made during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson position for 2026 was secured by Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, who takes over from Angola’s João Lourenço. The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” underscored the continent’s urgent need to strengthen access to water and sanitation as a shared public good crucial for both development and peace.
Addressing the Assembly on February 14, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, highlighted the summit’s relevance amid growing geopolitical instability in Africa, citing persistent conflicts, fragile institutions, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government. He called for stronger African solidarity, financial independence, and a united push to influence the global agenda.
The two-day summit also finalized the Bureau of the Assembly for 2026, which includes:
Chair of the African Union: Burundi (Central Africa)
First Vice Chair: Ghana – President John Dramani Mahama (West Africa)
Second Vice Chair: Tanzania (East Africa)
Third Vice Chair: To be confirmed (North Africa Region)
Rapporteur: Angola (Southern Africa Region)
The AU leadership lineup signals a coordinated effort among African nations to address pressing challenges, reinforce institutional reforms, and ensure sustainable development across the continent.
