By Fortune Abang, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
At a time when Africa is confronting complex development, governance and security challenges, Ministers of Foreign Affairs from across the African Union (AU) have called for renewed commitment to strengthening the organisation’s institutional frameworks.
They emphasised that a more sustainable, united and responsive Union is essential to addressing the continent’s evolving priorities through shared responsibility and deeper cooperation.
This position formed the centrepiece of deliberations at the 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Feb. 11 to Feb. 12, 2026.
As one of the AU’s principal policy organs, the AU Executive Council, comprising foreign ministers and designated representatives of member states, provides a strategic platform for aligning continental policies with Africa’s long-term aspirations.
Against this backdrop, the session underscored the Union’s continued resolve to strengthen continental governance, advance peace and security, and accelerate implementation of Africa’s shared development blueprint under Agenda 2063.
With the theme, “Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063”, discussions placed water security and sanitation firmly at the centre of Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
In practical terms, ministers reviewed the report of the Permanent Representative’s Committee (PRC), examined AU participation in the G20, and considered elections, legal instruments and institutional governance reforms.
While acknowledging progress recorded in 2025, delegates nevertheless stressed that deeper coordination would be required to consolidate achievements, especially in advancing regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Furthermore, participants observed that although previous Executive Council resolutions had largely been implemented, the current session must lay solid foundations for subsequent stages of collective continental action.
Opening the meeting, Angola’s Foreign Minister and Chair of Council, Tete Antonio, said the gathering was a defining moment not only to assess progress, but also to project the future of the Union.
He said: “During this 48th Ordinary Session, the Council will consider key agenda items, examine the reports of the 51st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee and the participation of the AU in the G20, reflecting on the strategic positioning of our continent in global governance fora.
“We reaffirm firm commitment to strengthening the institutional framework of the Organisation and to building a more sustainable, united, and responsive African Union capable of addressing the continent’s priorities, in a spirit of shared responsibility and cooperation among Member States.
“In this context, I call for the active engagement, constructive collaboration, and sense of responsibility of all Member States to ensure the smooth conduct of our work and the fulfilment of the tasks entrusted to us”.
He, therefore, highlighted structural reform, strengthened multilateral engagement, and sustained peace and security efforts as essential pathways towards realising the aspirations of Agenda 2063, popularly framed as “The Africa We Want.”
In addition, António referenced mediation and facilitation roles assigned to regional leaders, including Évariste Ndayishimiye and Faure Gnassingbé, as part of AU’s efforts to stabilise conflict-affected regions.
Similarly, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, warned that unconstitutional changes of government and weakening multilateral cooperation continue to threaten Africa’s normative foundations.
“African unity must be real and the African Union must be strong if we are to defend our continent from predatory moves that might come from all corners.
“What we need is not mere charity or goodwill of others, but true partnership, and that more than anything requires true strength which emanates from unity.
“Therefore, I hope that this session of the Executive Council will contribute to bolstering our unity and revitalising our commitment to our shared objectives,” he said.
From a development perspective, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf, linked the session’s sanitation theme directly to climate resilience, noting that water must be treated as a shared continental asset and a catalyst for peace.
“In the face of observed climate disruptions, the prudent use of water in all aspects of daily life is a major imperative.
“This vital resource must be perceived as a collective good to be preserved at all costs and as a vector for bringing our States closer together and for peace,” he added.
Supporting this position, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Claver Gatete, highlighted the need for coordinated economic strategies to sustain environmental and development gains.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, called for stricter fiscal discipline, institutional accountability and timely implementation of audit recommendations across AU organs.
According to him, expanding personnel without measurable output risks weakening institutional efficiency.
He expressed concern over procurement irregularities and slow recovery of advances, urging clear timelines to implement outstanding audit decisions.
Taken together, interventions by member states reiterated the importance of African ownership of African solutions, anchored on constitutional order, peace and sovereignty.
They also renewed demands for fairer representation in global governance, including reform of the United Nations Security Council, stronger influence in international economic decision-making, and equitable access to climate finance and debt relief mechanisms.
In addition, greater participation in global health governance, especially during public health crises, was identified as essential to safeguarding Africa’s interests.
Ultimately, deliberations at the 48th Executive Council session reflected a shared recognition that institutional strength, financial accountability and collective action will determine the AU’s ability to respond effectively to contemporary challenges.
As Africa navigates geopolitical uncertainty, climate pressures and development demands, ministers agreed that deeper cooperation among member states remains the surest path to a resilient and self-reliant continent. (NANFeatures)
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