African Union to Hold 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

The African Union (AU) is set to convene its 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 10 to 13 July 2025, with the high-level gathering expected to define the strategic direction of the Union for the coming year. The meeting will coincide with the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, composed of Foreign Affairs Ministers from AU Member States.

Hosted under the auspices of the AU Commission and the Government of Equatorial Guinea, the MYCM will bring together:

·       The AU Assembly Bureau (Heads of State and Government)

·       Chairpersons of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

·       Senior officials of the African Union Commission (AUC)

·       AU Specialized Agencies and other institutional partners

This annual coordination platform plays a pivotal role in aligning continental and regional priorities, assessing the implementation of Agenda 2063, and promoting effective integration between the AU and its Regional Mechanisms.

Key Issues on the Table

The 2025 Coordination Meeting comes at a time of renewed emphasis on internal consolidation and global positioning. Among the critical agenda items:

·       Review and adoption of the Draft 2026 AU Budget, amid persistent challenges with Member State contributions;

·       Finalization of the AU’s Partnership Strategy to streamline engagement with multilateral and development partners;

·       Mid-term evaluation of the AU’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.

In preparation, the 50th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) was held in Addis Ababa on 9 June 2025 to finalize inputs from Member States and AU Organs ahead of Malabo.

The ambassadors will deliberate on different reports including: the activities of the PRC Sub-Committees; Reports of the AU Commission; the mid-term activity report of the theme of the year 2025 on Justice and Reparations for Africans and People of African Descent, and other reports from AU Organs and the AU Specialized Agencies, before adopting their report as well as the draft decisions of the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

Host Country Preparedness

Equatorial Guinea’s government has affirmed its full readiness to host the summit. A joint AU-host country inspection mission conducted in April–May concluded with high marks for logistics, security, and venue preparedness. Malabo is expected to welcome over 500 delegates, media representatives, and institutional observers.

Why This Meeting Matters

The MYCM has evolved into a cornerstone of AU institutional coordination. With only 17 countries having implemented the AU’s 0.2% import levy to fund continental activities, budget discussions this year will be especially crucial. Moreover, the Union’s credibility on matters of justice, reparations, and inclusive governance will be tested as it reflects on progress made in the first half of the thematic year.

Decisions and declarations from the Malabo meeting will shape continental governance priorities ahead of the February 2026 AU Summit.