AU Peace and Security Council and Pan-African Parliament Host Landmark Joint Meeting on Strengthening Synergy for Peace in Africa

On the sidelines of the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), a landmark Joint Consultative Meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) and PAP is taking place from July 17 to 18, 2025, under the theme: “Enhancing Institutional Synergy and Collaboration for Sustainable Peace and Security in Africa.” Held at the PAP precincts in Midrand, South Africa, the meeting marks a strategic shift in deepening inter-organ collaboration for peace and governance on the continent.

Strengthening Institutional Bonds

This inaugural joint meeting follows a directive from the PSC’s 1160th meeting (Communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.1160 of June 2023), which called for regular institutional engagements with the Pan-African Parliament. The objective is clear: foster structured collaboration between the PSC and PAP in conflict prevention, peace building, post-conflict reconstruction, and democratic consolidation.

The meeting brought together members of the PAP Bureau, parliamentarians from the Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution, the 15-member Peace and Security Council, and senior officials from the African Union Commission including the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

Opening Ceremonies: A Call for United Action

Delivering welcome remarks on behalf of the host country, Dr. Phakamisa Siyothula, Representative of the Host Government (South Africa), Department of International Relations & Cooperation emphasized the urgency of enhanced coordination amid rising insecurity across Africa. “This theme is timely and relevant,” he noted. “Millions have been displaced and lost livelihoods due to conflict. By working together, we can overcome these challenges and build the peaceful Africa envisioned in Agenda 2063.”

The PAP President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, and the PSC Chairperson for July, H.E. Ambassador of Uganda, co-chaired the sessions and reiterated the importance of leveraging institutional complementarity to address Africa’s multifaceted security threats, from unconstitutional changes of government to violent extremism and humanitarian crises.

Rich Deliberations and Forward-Thinking Sessions

The meeting’s agenda, structured around five interactive sessions, tackled critical topics:

• The State of Governance, Peace and Security in Africa – Drawing on the detailed AU briefing note, discussions assessed hotspots such as Sudan, Somalia, the Sahel, eastern DRC, and Mozambique, highlighting successes, persistent gaps, and the importance of AU-led mechanisms like AUSSOM, the African Standby Force, and regional peace missions.
• Inclusive Political Participation and Democratic Representation – Parliamentarians and PSC members exchanged views on enhancing democratic accountability, youth inclusion, and the prevention of governance deficits that often trigger instability.
• Working Methods and Institutional Collaboration – Participants explored new modalities for institutional engagement, information sharing, and structured consultation between PAP and PSC, especially through committees and joint field missions.
• Parliamentary Support for AU Positions on Global Governance Reform – Emphasis was placed on PAP’s role in galvanizing continental voices on matters such as UN Security Council reform and Africa’s global strategic interests.
• Adoption of Joint Conclusions – On the second day, delegates considered and adopted conclusions including a roadmap for sustained collaboration, thematic priorities (climate-security, youth in peace building, gender and mediation), and capacity-building strategies for PAP in AU peace processes.

A Timely Collaboration in a Troubled Landscape

The backdrop to the meeting is a continent grappling with emerging and persistent threats—from terrorism and insurgencies to constitutional crises and climate-induced insecurity. The AU’s latest Briefing Note underscores the need for coordinated response mechanisms, robust parliamentary oversight, and people-centered governance to address these challenges effectively.

“From the Sahel to Sudan, from Somalia to the DRC, Africa’s peace and security architecture must move beyond reactive diplomacy to proactive synergy,” said PAP President.

A Shared Responsibility for Peace

In his opening remarks, the PAP President described the engagement as “a model for how AU organs can amplify each other’s strengths.” He added, “This is not just another meeting—it is a foundation for a more resilient, democratic and peaceful African future.”

The AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Amb. Bankole Adewoye echoed these sentiments, calling for “consistent and coherent institutional linkages that place African solutions at the heart of African problems.”

As the African continent faces one of its most volatile peace and security landscapes in recent years—from the ongoing Sudanese crisis to the evolving threats in the Sahel and Horn of Africa—this joint PSC–PAP meeting signals a renewed institutional will to work in unison.

And as Nelson Mandela, whose birthday coincides with the closing day of this gathering, once said: “Let there be peace for all.”