Addis Ababa, 15 February 2025 (SPS) - Angolan President Mr. Joao Lourenço took over the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa on Saturday, succeeding the former president of the continental organization, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
The ceremony for the handover of the presidency between the two presidents took place during the opening session of the 38th ordinary session of the AU Summit.
The Angolan president assured that he would work to accelerate the achievement of the objectives of the ten-year plan of Agenda 2063, which includes continental integrity, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), strategic partnerships, peace, security, and agriculture, while focusing on the "Silencing the Guns" initiative decided by the AU in 2013, aimed at achieving an Africa free of wars and civil conflicts by 2030.
As a reminder, the opening session of the Summit included the announcement of the membership of the AU Bureau for 2025, which consists of a president for the AU Bureau, three vice-presidents, and a rapporteur. The mission of the Bureau is to support the work of the AU presidency throughout the year.
The opening session also saw the official launch of the theme for the year 2025: "Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations."
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