AUC's First Leadership-PRC Meeting Signals Fresh Start — and a Chance to Break from a Controversial Past

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) held their first meeting under the new leadership last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — a moment widely seen as an opportunity to reset the tone and trajectory of the Union following years of turbulence and controversy under the previous administration.

Chaired by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the new Chairperson of the AUC, and H.E. Ambassador Professor Miguel Cesar Domingos Bembe of Angola, Chair of the PRC, the meeting centered on revitalizing collaboration and refining the working methods between the Commission and the PRC. The aim: to make the African Union (AU) more agile, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the continent.

In his opening remarks, Chairperson Youssouf did not mince words about the challenges ahead. “We must act with pragmatism and determination to transform our Union into an effective engine of progress across our continent,” he said, highlighting the urgent need to complete ongoing institutional reforms, curb bureaucracy, and restore the AU's credibility.

Breaking from a Troubled Legacy

This inaugural gathering takes on added significance in light of the legacy left by the previous Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, whose tenure was dogged by allegations of mismanagement, centralization of power, and a troubling erosion of institutional integrity.

In 2020, a leaked internal memo from AU staff accused Mahamat of running the AU like a "mafia-style cartel," rife with cronyism and opaque decision-making. These claims, though strongly denied by the AUC at the time, contributed to growing concern about the lack of transparency and accountability within the Union's top ranks.

Adding weight to the criticisms was a landmark 2023 ruling by the African Union Administrative Tribunal (AUAT), which annulled the appointment of the AU Legal Counsel. The Tribunal found the selection process to be marred by serious procedural irregularities and accused the Commission under Mahamat of obstructing justice by withholding key documents. This judgment reinforced the perception of an administration that had lost its grip on good governance.

Undermining Institutional Independence

Perhaps most alarming was the pattern of assertive involvement in the affairs of other AU organs, particularly the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). Under Mahamat, the Commission was accused of overreaching its mandate by interfering in internal PAP processes — including suspending amendments to its Rules of Procedure — thereby undermining the Parliament’s autonomy. Tensions between the AUC and PAP leadership reached a boiling point in 2022–2024, with some member states openly calling for the restoration of PAP’s institutional independence.

Similar concerns surfaced regarding the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, though direct evidence of interference was less pronounced. Still, these controversies fed into a broader narrative: that the AU under Mahamat had become overly centralized, bureaucratic, and divorced from the principles of accountability and subsidiarity that should define a continental governance body.

A Pivotal Moment for Reform

Against this backdrop, the first PRC-AUC meeting under Youssouf’s leadership was more than ceremonial — it was symbolic. It presented an opportunity to draw a clear line between the past and a new era of responsive, transparent governance. Stakeholders across the continent will be watching closely to see whether the promises of reform translate into action.

Youssouf’s emphasis on “pragmatism and determination” struck the right chord, but delivering tangible outcomes will require more than rhetoric. It will mean reinstating meritocratic hiring practices, insulating legislative bodies from executive overreach, and institutionalizing accountability mechanisms that can withstand political pressures.

The African Union’s relevance in the 21st century depends on its ability to evolve. The new leadership has the chance — and the responsibility — to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Only then can the AU truly become the effective engine of continental progress that its founders envisioned.

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