Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva on Friday, February 13, arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will represent President Paul Kagame at the 39th Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Government of African Union (AU). The two-day AU summit begining on Saturday will convene under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”It is expected to focus on peace and security, institutional reforms, and climate action. On the sideline of the summit, the Prime Minister is also expected to attend the second Italy–Africa Summit taking place on the Friday evening. The meeting will review progress made under the Mattei Plan, an initiative aimed at strengthening Italy’s structured political and economic partnerships and cooperation with African countries.On February 15, Nsengiyumva will participate in the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, which focuses on efforts to support peace and stability in the country. The AU summit summit follows the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, held on February 11-12, and attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe.Opening the Executive Council session, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called for unity, sustainable water management, and accelerated continental integration. He stressed the urgency of safeguarding water resources amid climate disruptions, describing water as both a shared public good and a tool for peace. During the Executive Council session, ministers also conducted elections and appointments to AU organs and institutions, including the Peace and Security Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The Council further reviewed progress on the implementation of previous decisions, including the Skills Assessment and Competence Audit (SACA) process, alongside draft legal instruments and institutional governance matters. Ministers also considered reports from various committees covering issues such as member state contributions, African candidatures within the international system, and implementation of continental development priorities.
