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.
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