United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday urged sweeping reforms to the UN Security Council, describing Africa’s continued absence from permanent representation a “indefensible” in 2026.
Addressing African leaders at the opening of the African Union’s annual summit,he insisted that the continent must have a decisive seat at the table when global decisions are taken. Mr Guterres also pressed for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and renewed efforts to halt fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stressing the urgency of ending protracted conflicts across Africa.
Water security emerged as the central theme of the two-day summit, with leaders warning that climate change and resource scarcity are increasingly fuelling instability. Outgoing AU Chairperson João Lourenço said Africa must move beyond reacting to global crises and instead help shape international agendas.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described water as a strategic continental asset vital to peace and stability, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said cooperative water management could serve as a driver of development and innovation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended the summit, underscored Africa’s growing geopolitical importance, arguing that Europe’s future is closely tied to Africa’s stability and prosperity.
During the summit, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye was elected African Union chairperson for 2026, succeeding Mr Lourenço. The gathering is also expected to review major security challenges in Sudan, the Sahel and Somalia, alongside deliberations on climate action, economic reform and institutional strengthening.