Forty Ninth (49th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Member States to Be Held Under the Theme of the Year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve Agenda 2063.”

Forty Ninth (49th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Member States

What: Forty Ninth (49th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Member States to be held under the theme of the year:

“Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve Agenda 2063.”

Who: The 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council is organized by the African Union Commission (AUC).

When: 28-29 July 2026

Where: Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Venue: African Union Headquarters (AUC)

Livestream: https://vimeo.com/event/6076717?fl=so&fe=fs

The opening ceremony, starting on Tuesday 28th July 2026 at 9:30 EAT, will include among others, a statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia, and Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Executive Council, Burundi.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

The 49th Session of the Executive Council is expected to accomplish the following:

Deliberate on the report of the committee on the implementation of Agenda 2063.

Deliberate on the report of the committee on the acceleration of ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties.

Deliberate on the progress report of the 2026 AU theme of the Year implementation status.

BACKGROUND:

The MYCM was conceptualized in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda, replacing the June/ July summits. It is a meeting between the bureau of the AU Assembly and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the Chairpersons of RECs, the AU Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

In January 2017, the AU Heads of State and Government made two key decisions:

To ensure a clear division of labour and effective collaboration between the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), the Member States, in line with the principle of subsidiarity;

In place of the June/July Summit, the Bureau of the African Union Assembly to hold a coordination meeting with the RECs, with the participation of the Chairpersons of the RECs, the AUC and RMs.

Article 7 of the Protocol on Mid -Year Coordination Meeting, clearly states that in place of the June/July Summit, the Bureau of the Assembly shall hold a coordination meeting with the RECs with the participation of the Chairpersons of the RECs, the Commission and RMs. The Commission shall coordinate and harmonise the activities of the Parties for the Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening of the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on Tuesday 28th July 2026, at 10:00am.