Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, joined African and international leaders on Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the opening of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU).

The summit marked the formal handover of the AU chairmanship for 2026 to Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, succeeding Angola’s President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.

The event brought together 49 heads of state and government, alongside international partners including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

According to Shettima’s office, the Vice President engaged with continental leaders to promote cooperation on Africa’s shared priorities, focusing on development, security, and sustainable initiatives.

The summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” was opened by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who urged African nations to act with unity.

He highlighted Ethiopia’s investments in smart agriculture and climate-friendly energy projects as steps toward a sustainable future for the country’s rapidly growing population.

UN Secretary-General Guterres praised the AU-UN partnership, emphasizing that years of collaboration have strengthened joint efforts in peace, security, and sustainable development.

Outgoing AU Chairperson Lourenço reflected on achievements during his tenure, including infrastructure growth, human capital development, and economic progress across Africa.

The handover ceremony concluded with a group photo of leaders before the Assembly moved into a closed session to discuss key issues, including water and sanitation, climate change, and regional security.