Can Angola move African leadership forward as AU chair?
The African Union Chairperson needs to ensure Angola can effectively utilize the strengths of peacebuilding, economic development and diplomatic.
The ascension to the AU assembly chair in Angola was one of the most important outcomes of the 38th AU ordinary session of the state chief and government assembly of Addis Ababa. In line with the 50th anniversary, the announcement followed a clear nomination that is less problematic for the South African region than the chairman of Mauritania, a compromise between North African countries.
The Speaker's Office, mandated in Article 6(4) of the AU Composition Act, serves as a platform for advancing Africa's interests at the global stage, and is increasingly being used to promote the national interests of consecutive chairs within the continental issue. As a result, it evolved into a place of fame and diplomatic influence. What are the comparative benefits of President Joan Manuel Goncalves Lourenzo?
Recent profits
The Angola chair will continue on to the period of Africa's progress and international positioning, including the continent's contribution to COP28 in 2023. During his tenure from 2023 to 2024, he also promoted the global expression of Africa after the AU's entry into the G20.
Angola's role follows the long-standing chairs that advance African progress and place globally
Under the leadership of Comoros President Azari Asomani, the continent maintained engagement on major dedicated platforms, including Africa + One Summit, leading an important advocacy for sustainable blue economic management. Mauritania's leadership has become more modest, but the Education Summit held at Noakchot in December 2024 reflects efforts to promote this year's AU theme “educating Africans perfect for the 21st century.”
Angola's priorities
In his first speech, chairing the opening of the 2025 AU Summit, Lourenço outlined his priorities. Focus also focused on energy and natural resource management, saying it will leverage Angola's oil surplus to support Africa's needs while promoting renewable investments. Peace and security strongly introduces support for peace mediation efforts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Additionally, the Angola agenda includes sustainable development of both agriculture and blue economies to reduce African migration to Europe.
Another issue is to strengthen continental integration through the free trade area of the African continent by investing in education and capacity building and form a strategic partnership ahead of the Fourth Development Conference held in Spain in June 2025.
The advantages of Angola
Angola was strategic with several priorities, but only three clearly utilize the country's experience in achieving continental goals. The first is energy and natural resources priorities. Given its position as Africa's second largest crude oil exporter and third largest diamond exporter, the country is well placed to promote the continent's addition mechanisms and contribute to economic transformation.
There is ample opportunity to promote the ratification and implementation of African natural resource management and investment agreements, and there is a maritime security charter to promote the African natural resource governance framework. Angola can advance national law alignment with the 2009 African Mining Vision, which promotes the addition of value in natural resource management. Additionally, the extraction industry transparency initiative must be prioritized to project the goodwill needed to promote expanded natural resources and energy governance goals.
Rich in oil and diamonds, Angola is good for contributing to economic transformation
Additionally, the US$2 billion Lobito Corridor Project (LCP), which links Zambia and DRC copper/cobalt regions to the Atlantic part of Lobito, provides insights and experience that can communicate leadership in improving connectivity. By placing the project as a model for Africa's high-speed rail development, Angola can drive the modernization and expansion of existing railway infrastructure. This goes far further towards developing transportation infrastructure along with Africa's infrastructure development programme. This includes the development of railway connections between regional enclaves that encourage the expansion of intra-Africa trade, particularly those that have been linked to the development of rail connections.
Finally, Lurenzo can call on his country's experience and deal with peace and security. Angola's peacebuilding qualifications have urged the AU committee to name the champions for peace and reconciliation in Africa more than 20 years after the end of the civil war.
Is the experience of peace friends important?
The status of the region's peace intermediary in Angola is strengthened by resolving tensions between Rwanda and the DRC via the Eastern DRC in the Luanda Process sponsored by the South African Development Community (SADC). This is with his experience as a SADC's most recent chair, as well as chair of the International Conference in Angola's Great Lakes Region, and his membership in the AU Peace and Security Council from 2024 to 2026.
This overlapping region and the leadership position of continents stands well to amplify its influence across both spheres, but too thin can hamper the ability to achieve continental results and establish a clear heritage. It is important that Angola recognizes the impact of leadership in order to effectively manage this challenge. Meanwhile, given Angola's involvement in mediating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, President Lourenço positions him as an important actor in harmonizing regional and continental efforts to bring peace to the DRC.
Create a chair's count
Although Angola envisions the chairman at a critical time in the history of the AU, the ability to promote continued interests in its involves both continuity and strategic innovation. This is relevant as it seeks to integrate its position in the global governance architecture following milestones such as G20 membership and increased participation in international negotiations on climate action, trade and security.
Too thin can prevent Angola from achieving results and creating a clear legacy
To win the chairman, Angola must navigate the complex landscape of continental and international diplomacy through impact-driven involvement. This means ensuring that the centres of energy and resource governance, transportation and connectivity, peace and security are not only clearly expressed, but also supported by practical frameworks, funding mechanisms and sustained diplomacy.
Success depends on balancing broad diplomatic responsibility with clear deliverables. Rather than overexpanding itself, it must identify and defend shocking initiatives to match the benefits of its comparison, which can leave a lasting legacy. These include ensuring concrete commitments in infrastructure financing, promoting DRC peace mediation, and promoting energy policies that integrate renewable investments with traditional resource extraction.
Ultimately, Angola's ability to manipulate the AU towards measurable results determines whether its leadership is viewed as merely symbolic or a substantial contribution to Africa's progress. By leveraging peacebuilding experience, economic strengths and strategic diplomatic positions, we can ensure that their tenure will produce concrete outcomes that strengthen the continent's integration, stability and global position.
