AUC Deputy Chairperson Calls for Renewed Partnership and Fair Budgeting as PRC Reviews PAP’s Supplementary Budget Request

By Olu Ibekwe

The 50th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), held in June 2025, offered more than just a routine administrative checkpoint for the African Union—it provided a reflective window into the early momentum and ambitions of the new African Union Commission (AUC) leadership. Standing in for the AUC Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi delivered a compelling opening statement that painted both a sobering and hopeful picture of the Union’s institutional state, financial challenges, and the path ahead. At the heart of her remarks was an urgent call for financial realism and equity—particularly as the PRC prepares to deliberate on the Union’s  supplementary budget request including that of the Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP).

Rebuilding Trust, Realigning Priorities

Ambassador Haddadi underscored that the first three months of the new AUC leadership have been consumed by what she described as “intense engagement and reflection”—a deliberate effort to consolidate trust and reinforce collaboration between the Commission and Member States. These efforts have prioritized peace and security, accountability, sustainable financing, and the implementation of decisions by the AU’s policy organs. Recognizing that institutional credibility rests not only on vision but also on execution, the Commission has embarked on internal reviews, resource optimization, and renewed partnerships, including with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), global institutions, and the G20.

The emphasis on dialogue and systemic reform is timely, as the Union contends with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic uncertainty, and structural inefficiencies. Ambassador Haddadi’s suggestion of a PRC-AUC retreat later in the year is not merely logistical—it is an appeal for coherence, synergy, and revitalized working methods.

The PAP Case: When Budget Cuts Erode Mandates

Nowhere is the disconnect between mandates and funding more evident than in the plight of the Pan-African Parliament. The Deputy Chairperson candidly acknowledged that statutory meetings of AU Organs have been hampered by austerity, with morale weakened by the protracted SACA process. She highlighted the detrimental effects of these constraints, from under-staffing to unsafe infrastructure.

Yet the case of PAP is particularly glaring. The Parliament, which under Article 14.2 of its Protocol is required to meet at least twice yearly in ordinary session, finds itself unable to convene due to insufficient budget. Hosting a single session costs approximately USD 1.3 million, but only USD 450,000 was allocated—a clear mismatch. This has delayed the May 2025 plenary, undermining both the Parliament’s functionality and its democratic mandate.

From a high of USD 18.5 million in 2019, PAP’s budget has now plummeted to about USD 10.5 million in 2025—a staggering 43% reduction. This is grossly disproportionate when compared to the overall 6% decline in the AU’s budget over the same period. No other organ of the Union has reportedly suffered such a drastic contraction. If unaddressed, this disparity threatens to cripple the very organ meant to breathe participatory life into the African Union.

Financing the Union: A Broken Promise?

Ambassador Haddadi revisited the historic 2015 Johannesburg decision that set a bold financing vision rooted in self-reliance: Member States were to fund 100% of the AU’s operational budget, 75% of the program budget, and 25% of peace support operations. Yet, ten years on, these targets remain elusive. While operational costs are largely domestically covered, only 17 countries have implemented the 0.2% import levy adopted in Kigali to finance the AU sustainably.

This shortfall has left the Union increasingly reliant on donor funding, threatening not only its autonomy but also its capacity to execute critical functions. The Deputy Chairperson rightly called for a new reflection on financial sustainability and recommended a procedural reform: that every draft decision by the PRC submitted to the Executive Council should be accompanied by its financial implications. This would allow Member States to make informed commitments and prevent unfunded mandates.

Reclaiming Africa’s Voice: Reparations and Justice

Finally, Ambassador Haddadi reaffirmed the AU Commission’s commitment to the 2025 theme—Justice and Reparations for Africans and People of African Descent. She praised the Union’s proactive role in global fora like the Africa Dialogue Series and the EU-AU Summit, emphasizing the need for sustained and inclusive action to redress historical injustices.

Here again, the role of PAP is critical. As the institution that gives democratic legitimacy to AU policies, the Parliament must be adequately resourced if it is to fulfill its role in championing reparations, promoting citizen engagement, and scrutinizing policy implementation.

Conclusion: Time for Equity, Not Just Austerity

Ambassador Haddadi’s address was both diplomatic and direct. It laid bare the contradictions between ambition and resourcing within the African Union. As the PRC prepares its recommendations to the Executive Council, it must grapple with one central truth: no organ, however symbolic or strategic, can function on declarations alone. The Pan-African Parliament’s severe budgetary constriction must be redressed in the supplementary budget, not just as a matter of institutional justice but as a litmus test for the Union’s broader credibility.

The AU cannot preach unity and integration while starving its own democratic engine. If the new leadership’s first months are to translate into lasting institutional renewal, then equitable and sustainable financing must begin now—with PAP.