African Union leaders convene for summit in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The African Union’s 38th Ordinary Assembly began on Saturday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, bringing together heads of state to discuss key regional and continental issues, including peace and security, economic integration, and institutional reforms.

The two-day summit will see African leaders deliberate on the state of peace and security, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and institutional reforms, among other strategic matters.

This summit also marks the launch of the year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” aiming to address historical injustices and their lasting impact on the continent.

In his welcoming remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on African nations to strengthen unity to ensure sustainable development. He also emphasized that Africa’s pursuit of justice for historical damages should not be misinterpreted as a request for aid.

The outgoing AU chair, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Mauritania’s president, congratulated his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco, on succeeding him.

In his acceptance speech, Lourenco stated that his leadership would focus on fiscal justice, climate funding, and debt relief.

As Angola assumed its first-ever chairmanship of the bloc, Burundi, Ghana, and Tanzania were elected as first, second, and third vice chairs, respectively, while Mauritania became rapporteur.

Among the speakers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his full support for UN Security Council reform, advocating permanent African representation.

“There is no excuse for Africa not having permanent representation in the UN Security Council,” he said, stressing the need for inclusion.

He also called for an immediate dialogue among warring parties in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speakers, including the outgoing African Union Commission chair, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the gathering that the idea of deporting Palestinians from their land is "a mere delusion."

“The issue of deporting Palestinians from Gaza is a major distraction meant to let the war crimes committed by the Zionist gang slide,” he said.

As the summit continues, a central discussion will focus on the biennial report on the bloc’s Silencing the Guns initiative, which aims to end armed conflicts on the continent by 2030.

Leaders will also assess the bloc’s role in the G20, after it became a permanent member in late 2023.

Additionally, the summit will address Africa’s growing role in global governance, with a report on reforming the UN Security Council expected from the Committee of Ten. Climate change, development financing, and social justice will also be in the spotlight.

This year’s reparations initiative seeks to secure financial compensation, formal acknowledgments of past wrongs, and policy reforms from former colonial powers.

Amid continuing fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi did not attend the summit, a government spokesperson confirmed Friday. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka will represent the country instead, said diplomatic sources.