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African Union headquarters
Source: commons.wikimedia.org4 photos
Photos from African Union Headquarters' own website and pages. Open a photo to see where it came from.
Landmark
African Union Headquarters
The 99.9 metre tower and conference centre of the African Union, near Sarbet
- Area
- Sarbet
The African Union Headquarters is a 99.9 metre tower and conference centre near Sarbet, Addis Ababa. It was inaugurated on 28 January 2012.
Good for
- Visitors
- Main tower of 99.9 metres with 20 floors
- Inaugurated on 28 January 2012
- Plenary hall with 2,505 seats
- Built on the site of the old Alem Bekagn prison
- Roads close during African Union summits
The African Union Headquarters is the conference centre and office complex of the African Union. It is on Roosevelt Street, between Mexico and Sarbet.
The building
The main tower is 99.9 metres high and has 20 floors. Building work started in 2009 and finished in 2012. The complex was inaugurated on 28 January 2012. The government of China paid for the main building, which cost USD 200 million. China State Construction Engineering built it.
The plenary hall seats 2,505 people. The summits of the African Union are held here. The Peace and Security Building, named after Julius Nyerere, opened in October 2016. Germany paid EUR 30 million for it.
History of the site
The complex stands on the site of the old Alem Bekagn prison. The prison held political prisoners during the Italian occupation and under later governments.
Getting there
The complex is a short drive from Mexico Square and Sarbet. Roads around it close during summits. Plan more time for trips through Sarbet, Mexico and Old Airport on those days.
Good to know
The complex is a working diplomatic site and is not open for walk-in visits. You can see the tower from Roosevelt Street and from many parts of the south-west of the city.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the African Union Headquarters?
The complex is a working diplomatic site and is not open for walk-in visits.
How high is the African Union tower?
The main tower is 99.9 metres high and has 20 floors.
When do roads close near the African Union?
Roads around the complex close during the summits of the African Union.
Sources
- African Union Conference Center and Office Complex, Wikipedia
- Photo: African Union Building.jpg by Pegel05, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: African Union Plenary Hall - Domed Ceiling by Andrew Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Flickr
- Photo: 00-African-union-conference-center.JPG by Elmschrat Coaching-Blog, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Ethiopia 2012 (6904104267).jpg by hiroo yamagata, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Profile last reviewed November 12, 2026.
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