Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye takes over as African Union Chair from Angola
Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has been elected Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2026. He takes over from Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
The decision was announced during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Outgoing Chairperson João Lourenço reflected on Angola’s leadership over the past year. He highlighted progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilising investments for infrastructure, strengthening continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting reforms to improve AU efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.
President Ndayishimiye, 57, has served as the tenth President of Burundi since June 2020. He became involved in the National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) during the Burundian Civil War and rose through its ranks. After the conflict, he entered the Burundian Army and held several political offices under President Pierre Nkurunziza, who endorsed him as successor ahead of the 2020 elections, which he won with a large majority.
The summit also confirmed the AU Bureau for 2026. Ghana was named First Vice Chair, Tanzania as Second Vice Chair, and Angola as Rapporteur. A representative from North Africa is yet to be confirmed as Third Vice Chair.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
