Addis ababa: President Joo Louren§o departed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 39th Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). This event will mark the conclusion of Angola's presidency of the continental organization and will introduce the 2026/27 agenda, which is centered on water and sanitation.

According to Angola Press News Agency, President Louren§o, accompanied by First Lady Ana Dias Louren§o, was seen off in Luanda by Vice-President Esperan§a da Costa and other state officials. The AU summit is scheduled for February 14 and 15 in Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the pan-African organization.

Joo Louren§o has been serving as the AU leader since February 2025, following his election by the Southern Africa region, which includes Angola. The upcoming meeting in Addis Ababa will witness the transition of AU leadership to Burundi. Burundi will hold the rotating presidency until February 2027, having served as the first vice-president over the past year, in alignment with the institution's statutes and regulations.

With the conclusion of its mandate, Angola joins other nations that have presided over the African Union, the successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was established in the 1960s to support liberation efforts and promote the independence of African countries from colonial rule. Official sources acknowledge that the Angolan presidency has played a role in enhancing the continent's international presence and solidifying the AU's capacity to address political and diplomatic challenges in Africa.