Kigali, Rwanda – African Union foreign ministers are set to convene in Addis Ababa this week for a high-stakes Executive Council meeting where Africa’s role and participation in the G20 will take centre stage.
The 48th ordinary session of the AU Executive Council, scheduled for 11–12 February 2026 will bring together Ministers of Foreign Affairs and designated ministers from all AU member states to deliberate on policy priorities ahead of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The AU participation in the G20 builds on earlier decisions that secured Africa a more coordinated voice in global economic governance.
Africa’s admission as a permanent member of the G20 is widely viewed in the region as a breakthrough for African representation on global debt relief, climate financing and development funding discussions.
For Rwanda and the wider East African region, the discussions are closely watched, particularly as past AU policy meetings have strengthened Africa’s collective bargaining power on issues such as development financing, infrastructure investment and health systems resilience.
These are areas central to national development priorities under Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the East African Community agenda.
According to the AU commission, the Executive Council is mandated to “coordinate and take decisions on policies in areas of common interest to member states, and prepare items for consideration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063”
Ministers will consider the report of the 51st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), conduct elections and appointments to AU organs and institutions, and review institutional governance and legal instruments.
These processes have in previous sessions resulted in streamlined AU reforms and strengthened oversight of continental institutions.
The Council will also review the implementation of decisions related to the SACA process, and other efforts to improve coordination, accountability and efficiency within the AU structures- reforms consistently backed by Rwanda and other East African states in past deliberations.
