Ethiopia has begun its final preparations and is ready to host the distinguished delegations of the 39th African Union Summit and the 2nd Italy-Africa Summit.
As everyone gathers in the diplomatic capital of Africa, Ethiopia warmly invites all distinguished delegates to plan ahead and extend their stay beyond the halls of the African Union (AU) to experience a new era of African-led tourism development.
Reportedly, the gatherings will be held over several days. As per the schedule:
- The 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council will be observed first on February 11 & 12, 2026, which will be attended by foreign ministers.
- The Italy-Africa Summit is scheduled to be observed on February 13, 2026.
- The 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will be held on February 14 & 15, 2026.
- The, the AU Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the organisation and will set policy priorities for the continent.
The 2026 AU Summit focus on the theme “Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”
Agenda 2063 is the African Union’s long-term development blueprint that aims at promoting economic growth, integration and sustainable development across Africa. Further the Ethiopian officials said that discussions are expected to highlight water security, climate challenges and infrastructure development.
Ethiopia has finalised its preparations and stands ready to host the distinguished delegations of the 39th African Union Summit and the Second Italy–Africa Summit.
As you gather in the diplomatic capital of Africa, I warmly invite all distinguished delegates to plan ahead and… pic.twitter.com/WpkS4GVrfx
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) February 11, 2026
Considering this, Spokesperson for Foreign Ministry – Ambassador Nebiat Getachew said that Ethiopia had completed preparations covering logistics, protocols and security. He said that the country plans to use the summits to advance national interests through political diplomacy. It will also promote the conference tourism through hospitality and cultural activities.
These authorities aim to showcase Ethiopian culture and values to visit delegations and international guests. Officials said that Ethiopia has aligned several national initiatives with the summit’s theme. It has included renewable energy cooperation with neighbouring countries, also considers water conservation programmes and environmental efforts linked to the Green Legacy Initiative.
The government also highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen regional water cooperation, including work to transform the Nile Basin Cooperation Framework into a formal commission. A total of 179 young volunteers has been recruited to support the AU Summit, continuing a practice from previous years.
Officials further stated that the initiative reflects the principle that citizens can contribute to diplomacy and is linked to a youth volunteer service framework introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Furthermore, opening and closing sessions of the summit are expected to attract significant international attention, with leaders discussing continental priorities and adopting decisions that shape African Union policies. Also, authorities have called on residents of Addis Ababa to cooperate with arrangements to ensure the smooth running of the events.