Which capital of Ethiopia hosts the African Union's headquarters?

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and hosts the African Union’s headquarters.

The city is home to the African Union Commission, the organisation’s main administrative and secretariat body. This role has helped make Addis Ababa a major diplomatic centre and earned it the nickname “the political capital of Africa.”

Addis Ababa’s continental importance predates the African Union. The Organisation of African Unity, its predecessor, was founded there in 1963. The African Union was launched in 2002, retaining Addis Ababa as its administrative headquarters. A large AU Conference Center and Office Complex was inaugurated in 2012.

Nairobi, Kigali, and Asmara are also important African capitals, but they host different national or international institutions. The African Union’s headquarters are in Ethiopia’s capital, not Kenya’s, Rwanda’s, or Eritrea’s.