Angola’s President João Lourenço assumes African Union Chairmanship

Addis-Ababa, (Ethiopia):- Angolan President, H.E. João Lourenço has officially taken over as Chairperson of the African Union (AU), succeeding President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania.

The transition of leadership took place during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Upon assuming office, President Lourenço reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising conflict resolution across the continent, with a particular emphasis on the crisis in Sudan.

“The Sudanese crisis will be at the top of my agenda,” he stated, underscoring the importance of dialogue and diplomatic efforts in restoring peace.

Beyond Sudan, President Lourenço has been actively engaged in mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region, particularly in addressing tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. His leadership aims to foster stability in a resource-rich region that has long been affected by conflict.

New AU Bureau for 2025

The newly appointed Bureau of the AU Assembly for 2025 comprises a diverse representation from the continent’s five regions:

• Chairperson: Republic of Angola (Southern Region)
• 1st Vice Chair: Republic of Burundi (Central Region)
• 2nd Vice Chair: Republic of Ghana (Western Region)
• 3rd Vice Chair: United Republic of Tanzania (Eastern Region)
• Rapporteur: Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Northern Region)

This leadership team is tasked with addressing key challenges, including political instability, terrorism, and unconstitutional changes of government.

Under Angola’s chairmanship, the AU is expected to focus on conflict resolution, economic development, and strengthening unity among member states to advance the continent’s collective interests.