African Leaders Set to Launch 2026 AU Theme on Water and Sanitation at 39th Ordinary Session

Addis Ababa, February 13, 2026 (FMC) – African Heads of State and Government will launch the African Union theme for 2026, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” when they convene for the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on February 14.

The 2026 theme highlights the strategic importance of water and sanitation for the continent’s development, peace, climate resilience, and socio-economic transformation. Across Africa, approximately 400 million people lack access to safe water, while more than 800 million lack basic hygiene services, underlining the urgency of sustainable water management.

The theme is linked to Agenda 2063, the African Union’s 50-year development framework aimed at transformation, inclusive growth, poverty eradication, improved food security, and climate resilience. The AU emphasizes that water security is not just a sectoral issue but a foundational input into economic growth, food security, health, climate adaptation, and conflict prevention, requiring regional cooperation and investment.

Ahead of the Assembly, the African Union Commission announced a roadmap for implementing the 2026 theme, focusing on governance and policy frameworks, political commitments, financing and investment, partnerships, knowledge management, and capacity building across the continent. Member states were urged to significantly and urgently invest in water resources and integrate them into national development budgets.

Commissioners highlighted the economic impact of water and sanitation on productivity, industrial competitiveness, and urban development. Water-related diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid continue to claim an estimated 115 lives every hour in Africa, affecting labor productivity and investment. Ensuring access to water and sanitation is therefore considered essential for both human security and economic development.

The 39th Ordinary Session, running from February 14 to 15, will also cover other strategic matters, including: the announcement of the AU bureau for 2026; the report of the Peace and Security Council and the state of peace and security in Africa; a draft memorandum of understanding on the utilization of the African Standby Force; and the AU institutional reforms report.

Leaders will also receive briefings on Africa’s participation in the G20, including outcomes of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, and reports on initiatives such as Agenda 2063, the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Programme (CAADP), and African Development Bank-led projects.

At the conclusion of their deliberations, African leaders are expected to adopt decisions, declarations, and resolutions that will guide AU policies, steer continental priorities, and provide formal direction to AU organs and member states. Past transformative decisions include the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa CDC, the COVID-19 Response Fund, the Africa Peace Fund, and the adoption of Agenda 2063.

The summit will conclude on February 15 with a press briefing by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Chairperson of the Assembly.