ADDIS ABABA-ETHIOPIA – The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) opened Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
The two-day summit, which brings together leaders from AU members, was launched under the AU’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
In addition to sustainable water management, delegates also discussed a range of issues, including peace and political stability, economic development, regional integration, and efforts to strengthen Africa’s global standing and unity.
The opening session drew African Heads of State and Government, alongside leaders of continental and international organizations, including Uganda’s Vice president Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo who represented President Yoweri Museveni.
While addressing the summit the VP Alupo reaffirmed Uganda’s position on the proliferation of peace initiatives and externalization of African conflicts that undermines African Union efforts. She emphasized that harmonization of peace initiatives under the leadership of the AU is very important.
“We support the report of the peace and security between the African union on its activities and the state of Peace and Security in Africa, January-December 2025. Uganda also supports the Draft Memorandum of understanding between the African Union, the Regional Economic communities and the Regional Mechanisms on the utilization of the African standby Force,” she said.
The vice president further commended the Federal government of Somalia for the steps taken to accelerate the realization of critical national priorities and urged the federal government, federal member states to remain open for an inclusive political dialogue and cooperation. “Division complicates the fight against Alshabaab terrorist,” she said.
Alupo reiterated the call for the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and stability of the federal republic of Somalia and further urged the African Union to continue its engagements with the UN security Council on the application of Resolution 2719 on Somalia.
Alupo reminded the ongoing AU summit that on December 21st 2025, president Museveni in his capacity as chair of the Regional Oversight Mechanism for the DRC and the Region, hosted an urgent Adhoc Summit in Entebbe, with the objective of addressing the escalating security and humanitarian situation in Eastern DRC and its regional implications; and identified responses to the root causes of the conflict.
On Sudan, the vice president welcomed the Sudanese National Initiative for peace announced on December 22ND 2025. “We support its full implementation in alignment with the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the conflict in Sudan. There can be no viable and sustainable military solution to the ongoing conflict.
She called for an immediate, permanent and unconditional cessation of hostilities so as to pave way the way for an inclusive, Sudanese led and owned comprehensive political dialogue.
She further noted that Uganda is in support of the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Utilization of the African Standby Force. “ We commend the Co-Chair of the African Platform for Children Affected by Armed Conflict, and the Commission for championing the child protection agenda in situation of conflict.
COMMITTEE OF TEN
The Vice President also addressed the Committee of Ten African Union Heads of state and Government on the Reforms of the United Nations Security Council (C-10) chaired by H.E Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
She expressed gratitude to all members of the C-10, for the unwavering commitment to advancing the common African Position (CAP) on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, since its adoption in 2005 and for remaining solidly united.
Alupo said there’s no doubt that the C-10 has made significant progress in promoting, advocating and canvassing for the support of the CAP through diplomatic engagements with several relevant stakeholders and interest groups within the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) and other multilateral level.
She noted that as we witnesses a period of global upheavals and uncertainties in multilateralism, this should be the time for Africa to demand that the Five Permanent members on the un Security council genuinely demonstrate the political will to consent to the full reform of the Council, to make it more inclusive, just, equitable, transparent, responsive, democratic and relevant.
“We reiterate our demand to rectify the historical injustice against Africa, which should not be perpetrated any longer, and for Africa to be prioritized as a special case for adequate representation on the UN Security Council,” the vice president said.
She stressed that there’s need to build the ‘Africa we want’ in accordance with the vision of the African Union-cohesive, secure, prosperous, united and speaking with one voice on all aspects, including the UN Security Council reform process, so as to foster the maintainance of international peace and security for global development.
Alupo further that the comprehensive reform of the united Nations including the security council, are key to keeping pace with contemporary geopolitical realities and challenges.
“We are committed to the mandate given to us by the African union to promote, advocate and canvass for support of the common Africa position on the reform of the united nation security council as stipulate in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte declaration,” she said.
The vice president expressed satisfaction with the African union Model on the reform of the UN Security Council, as it aligns with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. She said Africa must be represented in the UN Security Council by not less than two permanent seats with equal prerogatives and previleges of permanent membership and two more non-permanent seats in the non-permanent category.
As members of the C-10 and AU members, we must vigorously pursue the reform process of the UN Security Council to tangible results. “We must continue speaking with one voice, consistently, and to avoid positions or other membership affiliations that conflict with the CAP,” she said.
The vice president added that it is also important that they do not lose sight of allocating adequate financing for the C-10 activities. “Therefore, I urge the AU Commission to consider providing adequate funding and support to facilitate the work of the C-10,” she said.
She concluded her address, by reminding members to remain steadfast in their demand for the immediate full reform of the UN Security Council and for adequate representation of Africa in both the permanent and Non-permanent categories, in line with the Common African Position.
She however warned that any further postponement of the Council’s reform process undermines Africa’s interests, the maintenance of International peace and security and global development
