Your Excellency Mr. Tété Antonio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, Chairman of the Executive Council,
Your Excellency Mr. Gideon Thimothos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia,
Honourable Ministers,
Mr. Executive Secretary of the ECA,
Ambassadors,
Executive Secretaries/Secretaries General of the Regional Economic Communities,
Members of the Commission and Specialised Agencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I wish to extend my best wishes for 2026 to all of you.
I also welcome the new Ministers who are participating in the meeting of this Council for the first time.
This preparatory meeting for the 39th Summit of the African Union is very important in many respects.
The situation on the Continent and international geopolitics are closely linked and their interaction is undeniable.
First and foremost, I would like to commend the work accomplished by the PRC over the past 15 days.
The Angolan Chairmanship, led by Professor Bembe, was exemplary.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The theme of this Summit this year focusing on Water and Sanitation is of paramount importance. This vital resource for all our countries must be seen as a collective good to be preserved at all costs.
In the light of the climate disruptions witnessed, its sparing use in all aspects of daily life is a major imperative need. This resource must be a catalyst for bringing our States closer and for peace.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The African Union Commission is pursuing its efforts for reform. It has focussed on controlling expenditure and aligning resources with established objectives.

The Commission has approved the 2024-2028 Five-Year Plan and the SACA Reform has entered its implementation phase.
The Reform Unit of the Commission is working under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, to make progress on key components of this undertaking.
- Peace and Security Architecture
- Financing
- Division of Labour
- Court of Justice

We must admit it that these are difficult issues that will certainly be the subject of in-depth deliberations by our Leaders.
The Second source of concern for our Commission relates to political stability and security crises, as well as conflicts on the Continent.
There has been regression; progress is minimal. Mediation efforts and good offices are slow to produce the expected results.
The Peace and Security Council is reactive, the Department of the Commission, in charge of these matters, is doing valuable work and our Mediators are actively engaged.

Regarding the Unconstitutional Changes of Government, I welcome the restoration of the Constitutional Order in the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Guinea and their return to the AU, following a successful Transition process, supported by the Commission.
Unfortunately, Madagascar and Guinea Bissau have gone through Unconstitutional Change of Government.
The Commission is endeavouring to support these two countries in their Transition processes. In the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, the Terrorist threat remains persistent.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Development and Integration represent another area, as vast as the previous ones.
The AfCFTA and the Specialised Agencies are in the forefront of our multilateral actions. Progress is tangible and the Guided Trade Initiative serves as a reminder.
AUDA-NEPAD, the Africa CDC and the AMA—and I cannot list them all—are active Mechanisms working in harmony with the Member States.

More than ever before, the Continent needs to harness these instruments to boost the momentum of Development and Integration.
We must ponder over innovative funding sources, involve the African Private Sector in our programmes, Civil society, Philanthropic Foundations—no actor, however marginal, should be overlooked.
Money is the lifeblood of Development and Prosperity.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Agenda of the Summit has already been circulated.
We strove to condense it as much as possible. We are all aware of the inefficiency of marathon Summits.
The key to the success of our meetings lies in our ability to focus on Strategic issues and questions of absolute priority.

I wish your august Council full success in its deliberations.