The African Union (AU), the continental body that brings together Africa’s member states and is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has announced plans to hold the Forty-Eighth (48th) Ordinary Session of its Executive Council in February 2026, a meeting expected to draw senior policymakers from across the continent to discuss governance, institutional reforms, and shared policy priorities.
In an official notice published on the African Union website on Wednesday, the organisation described the Executive Council as one of its central decision-making organs, typically made up of foreign ministers or other designated ministers from African Union member states.
“The Forty-Eighth (48th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (ExC) of the African Union (AU) will hold in February 2026. The Executive Council is one of the African Union’s principal policy organs, composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs or other designated Ministers of AU Member States”, the announcement partly read.
The African Union added that the Executive Council plays a coordinating role across policies that affect multiple member states, while also preparing issues to be taken up by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the African Union’s highest decision-making forum. Okay News reports that the meeting is being framed as part of the broader push to align the Union’s institutions with Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term development blueprint for the continent.
“It is responsible for coordinating and taking decisions on policies in areas of common interest to Member States, as well as preparing items for consideration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063.
“The session is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, and Thursday, 12 February 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (East Africa Time, EAT), at the Mandela Conference Hall, African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia”, the announcement added.
Beyond the timing and venue, the African Union also outlined major issues expected on the agenda, including a review of the Report of the Fifty-First (51st) Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), a key African Union structure that includes accredited representatives of member states to the Union.
“During the session, the Executive Council will consider the Report of the 51st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), deliberate on African Union participation in the G20, conduct elections and appointments to AU organs and institutions, review the implementation of its decision on the Skills Audit and Competency Assessment (SACA) process, and consider draft legal instruments and institutional governance matters”, the African Union further announced.
The reference to the Group of Twenty (G20), the international forum of major economies that discusses global economic and financial issues, points to a continuing conversation within the African Union about how Africa should be represented and how the continent’s collective interests should be advanced in global decision-making spaces.
The African Union also invited media organisations to cover the ceremonial portions of the gathering, specifically the official opening and closing activities expected across the two days.
It noted that, “Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union on 11 and 12 February 2026.”
On access and media coordination, the African Union said more guidance would be shared before the meeting begins, including how the public can follow proceedings and how journalists can engage with planned briefings.
“Further details on livestream arrangements and media coverage opportunities will be communicated in due course.
“Media practitioners are encouraged to follow the official African Union communication channels for timely updates, including information on press conferences and interview opportunities.”
