Addis Ababa, February 11, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is fully prepared to welcome high-level delegations for the 39th African Union (AU) Summit and the 2nd Italy–Africa Summit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on social media this morning.
PM Abiy highlighted the country’s upgraded infrastructure, noting that newly enhanced conference halls and state-of-the-art tourism facilities have been built to the highest international standards. “With a newly enhanced landscape featuring world-class conference halls and comfortable, state‑of‑the‑art tourism destinations, we assure you that your stay will be more special than ever before,” he wrote.
The Prime Minister also invited summit participants to extend their visit and experience Ethiopia beyond the official meetings. “I invite participants to witness the new era of African-led tourism development and to fully experience what Ethiopia has to offer,” PM Abiy added.
The 39th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from 14–15 February 2026, with the AU Executive Council session preceding it on 11–12 February.
The AU gathering is expected to draw around 39 African heads of state and government, as well as senior international figures including the United Nations Secretary‑General and Deputy Secretary‑General, for discussions on peace, economic cooperation, sustainable growth, and other continental priorities.
Officials say the summit’s theme will center on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” highlighting water security, climate resilience, and resource management as critical areas for Africa’s development.
As host of the AU’s headquarters and key continental institutions, Ethiopia has emphasized its readiness to provide world‑class facilities, robust security, and comprehensive hospitality for the summit’s participants. Preparatory statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that about 20,000 visitors are expected to arrive for the series of events, underlining the logistical scale of the meetings.
The 2nd Italy–Africa Summit is set to take place on 13 February 2026 in Addis Ababa, marking the first time this high‑level Italy–Africa forum is held on African soil. Initiated after the first summit in Rome in January 2024, the meeting aims to deepen political and economic cooperation between Italy and African states under the framework of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa — a multi‑sector strategy focused on sustainable development, infrastructure, energy, education, healthcare, and agriculture.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said the Addis Ababa summit will provide an opportunity to review progress on joint projects, assess outcomes since the plan’s launch, and identify operational priorities for future cooperation. The event will also align with broader continental goals and coincide with the opening plenary session of the AU Heads‑of‑State Assembly, reinforcing its diplomatic significance.
Together, the AU Summit and the Italy–Africa Summit are expected to showcase both Africa’s internal agenda on critical development issues and the continent’s engagement with strategic international partners.