Several African Heads of State and Government arrived in Addis Ababa on February 12, 2026, for the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union and the inaugural Africa–Italy Summit, being hosted on African soil for the first time.
Among the early arrivals were President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. of Liberia, Prime Minister Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos of São Tomé and Príncipe, and Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.
They were received at Bole International Airport by senior Ethiopian officials, including the Minister of Health, Mekdes Daba, Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye.
This year’s AU Summit is convened under the theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” The gathering will bring together heads of state, government officials and development partners to advance key continental priorities.
Delegates are expected to remain in the Ethiopian capital through Sunday for high-level deliberations, bilateral engagements and the historic Africa–Italy Summit, aimed at strengthening political, economic and development cooperation.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Ethiopia plans to showcase recent national achievements, including major corridor infrastructure projects and riverside development initiatives.
Organisers say the exhibitions and site visits are intended to offer visiting leaders direct insight into the country’s progress in infrastructure, trade facilitation and sustainable local development.
The twin summits are expected to focus on water and sanitation, peace and security, economic integration, infrastructure expansion and strategic partnerships between Africa and international partners.