President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will be heading to the 39th Ordinary Session of
the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, later this weekend.
In this piece, New Era delves deeper into the President’s chief priority at the continental summit, at a time when Africa is facing growing global uncertainty and shifting alliances.
To understand this, presidential correspondant Loide Jason engages Nandi-Ndaitwah’s spokesperson, Jonas Mbambo. At the onset, Mbambo emphasised that the president’s participation reflects Namibia’s active role in shaping continental decisions.
The 39th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to take place from 14 to 15 February.
“The President’s participation comes at a time of global uncertainty. Multilateralism is under pressure, and many nations are reassessing their place in a changing international order,” Mbambo, said.
He said the current global climate mirrors the 1960s.
“In many ways, this moment recalls the 1960s, when then British prime minister Harold Macmillan spoke of the winds of change sweeping across the African continent as newly independent states began to shape their collective voice. Today, those winds have returned in a different form. Africa once again stands at a crossroads,” he said.
The summit provides an important platform for African leaders to reaffirm unity and strengthen their collective voice.
“The continent faces geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and growing concerns about fairness in global governance,” he said.
Priorities
Key issues on the summit agenda include peace and security, progress on Agenda 2063, institutional reforms within the AU, and the long-standing call for reform of the United Nations Security Council.
The summit will also launch the AU theme for 2026, which focuses on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of 2030.
“This theme aligns closely with Namibia’s national priorities under Vision 2030 and the NDP6,” Mbambo said.
Another highlight of the president’s visit will be her participation in a high-level fireside conversation with Africa’s female presidents under the banner ‘Beyond Barriers: Women Leaders Reshaping African Governance.’
“This engagement reflects the growing role of women in leadership across the continent. It also highlights Namibia’s commitment to gender equality, inclusive governance, and the empowerment of women at the highest levels,” Mbambo noted.
Also on the sidelines, Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to hold several high-level bilateral meetings aimed at advancing Namibia’s economic diplomacy agenda.
“These meetings are meant to advance Namibia’s development priorities and strengthen trade, investment, and climate-related partnerships in line with the economic diplomacy agenda of the 8th administration,” he said.
Confirmed engagements include meetings with the African Union Commission chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, executive director of the Green Climate Fund Mafalda Duarte, and Eswatini prime minister Russell Dlamini. Requests for meetings have also been submitted to the leaders of Kenya and Ghana.
“These engagements will focus on climate finance, resource mobilisation, economic cooperation, and stronger diplomatic and institutional partnerships that deliver tangible benefits for the Namibian people,” he said.
At last year’s AU Summit, Namibia aligned itself with continental calls for African-led solutions to conflicts and for greater access to climate finance.
Mbambo said this year’s participation builds on that position.
“Through these engagements, Namibia continues to position itself as a principled and constructive voice within continental decision-making structures. The country promotes African solidarity, peaceful conflict resolution, and African-led solutions in line with the spirit of Agenda 2063,” he said.