PAP President Reaffirms Commitment to Joint Peace and Security Agenda with AU PSC

In a determined and reassuring tone, the President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, made it clear that no logistical hurdle would stand in the way of the successful hosting of the much-anticipated Joint Consultative Meeting between the Pan-African Parliament and the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), set for 17–18 July 2025 in Midrand, South Africa.

Speaking during a high-level preparatory meeting held on 9 July 2025 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on the margins of the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM), President Charumbira reaffirmed PAP’s unwavering commitment to the historic Joint Meeting—the first formal collaboration between PAP and PSC in over a decade. He emphasized the strategic significance of establishing durable working methods to institutionalize the partnership between Africa’s premier peace and security organ and its continental legislative body.

The PAP President outlined a number of key mechanisms to strengthen the collaboration, including the formation of specialized parliamentary committees focused on peace and security hotspots, the increased deployment of parliamentary diplomacy in conflict resolution and management, the design of institutional and operational synergies backed by time-bound action plans, and the inclusion of technical and financial capacity-building to support PAP’s engagement in peace efforts.

Underscoring the inclusive character of the planned meeting, the 1st Vice President of the PAP, Hon. Dr. Fatimetou Habib, stressed the importance of integrating women and youth in continental dialogues on peace, security, and governance. She noted that the PAP Bureau had deliberately included both the Women Caucus and the Youth Caucus in the upcoming Joint Meeting.

The preparatory meeting, which brought together senior representatives of the PSC and PAP, was convened to finalize the agenda and align expectations ahead of the July engagement. The Chairperson of the PSC, H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otongo, welcomed the PAP delegation and described the initiative as an important step towards reinforcing inter-organ coordination within the African Union, particularly in areas of peace, security, and governance.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adewoye, echoed the strategic relevance of the Joint Meeting. He highlighted key thematic priorities, including conflict dynamics in the Sahel, Sudan, and South Sudan, the role of women and youth in peace building, and continental responses to unconstitutional changes of government. Ambassador Bankole commended the PAP leadership for its proactive stance and urged the Parliament to harness its parliamentary networks in support of Africa’s peace and security agenda.

In her closing remarks, PSC Chairperson Otongo thanked all participants and reiterated the PSC’s commitment to forging a results-oriented and dynamic partnership with the Pan-African Parliament.

The PSC and PAP jointly pledged to ensure the success of the upcoming Joint Consultative Meeting, describing it as a pivotal moment in the evolution of inter-organ collaboration within the African Union system—one that will enhance the effectiveness of the continental peace, security, and governance framework.