African Parliamentary Leaders Strengthen Diplomacy and Collective Action to Advance Agenda 2063 at Pan-African Parliament Speakers' Conference

MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – Parliamentary leaders from across Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to using parliamentary diplomacy, legislative cooperation and collective oversight to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 and address the continent's interconnected development challenges.

The commitment emerged from the two-day Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments held on Thursday and Friday at the headquarters of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. The Conference was agreed under the theme:“The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations between National and Regional Parliaments and in Contributing to the Realization of the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

Bringing together Speakers and representatives of national, regional and continental parliamentary institutions, the Conference provided a platform for sharing national experiences, strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and identifying practical legislative responses to Africa's developmental priorities.

The discussions focused on how parliaments can work collectively to confront armed conflicts, terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government, climate change, irregular migration, youth unemployment, food and energy insecurity, public health emergencies, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and development financing.

Pan-African Parliament calls for stronger parliamentary cooperation

Opening the Conference, the President of the Pan-African Parliament, HE Dr. Fateh Boutbig , welcomed the parliamentary leaders and emphasized the importance of stronger cooperation among Africa's national, regional and continental legislatures.

The opening ceremony also featured a welcome address from the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, messages of solidarity from parliamentary leaders and a keynote intervention on the implementation of Agenda 2063. The Conference Table was formally installed as part of efforts to institutionalize cooperation among the participating parliamentary institutions.

The first day also featured the declaration of Pan-African Women's Day by the Women's Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. Through the declaration, the Caucus reaffirmed the commitment of African parliamentarians to the full and effective participation of women in the continent's political, economic and social life.

During a session devoted to national and regional good practices, parliamentary leaders exchanged experiences on the implementation of Agenda 2063 and examined how cooperation could be strengthened to translate its aspirations into national laws, budgets and development programs.

South Africa reaffirms support for the Pan-African Parliament

Welcoming delegates, the Speaker of South Africa's National Assembly, Hon. Thoko Didiza , described parliamentary diplomacy as an essential instrument for building trust, strengthening peace and advancing Africa's shared future.

She congratulated the newly elected Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament and reaffirmed South Africa's support for the institution as the democratic voice of the African people and an important pillar of accountability within the African Union.

Hon. Didiza said parliamentary diplomacy promotes dialogue, legislative cooperation and the development of common solutions to shared continental challenges, including migration, peace building, democratic governance and sustainable development.

She called for greater collaboration among national, regional and continental parliaments, increased participation by women and young people, and stronger coordination between the Pan-African Parliament and the parliamentary institutions of the Regional Economic Communities.

She also advocated better alignment of Africa's engagement within international institutions, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and continued efforts to strengthen the Pan-African Parliament as Africa's first continental parliamentary institution.

“Africa's greatest strength lies in learning from one another,” she said, urging parliamentary leaders to transform dialogue into collective action that delivers tangible benefits for citizens.

Women's Caucus Launches Continental Initiative for Gender Equality

A major highlight of the opening day was the adoption of a landmark Pan-African Women's Day Declaration by the Pan-African Parliament Women's Caucus, reaffirming that Africa's prosperity, peace and democratic future depends upon the full participation, leadership and empowerment of women and girls.

The Declaration called on Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments to institutionalize 31 July as an annual parliamentary platform dedicated to advancing gender equality while reaffirming Africa's commitment to implementing Agenda 2063 , the Maputo Protocol , and the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) . It also honored the legacy of the founders of the Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO), recognizing their contribution to the advancement of women's rights across the continent.

Among its landmark resolutions, the Women's Caucus led by Hon. Rahab Mukami Wachira announced that beginning in 2027 , the Pan-African Parliament will convene an Annual Pan-African Conference on Women Parliamentarians and Women Political Leaders , bringing together women legislators, Speakers of Parliament, African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, academia and civil society to strengthen women's leadership, parliamentary cooperation and accountability for gender equality.

The Declaration further called for stronger parliamentary oversight, gender-responsive budgeting, increased investment in women's empowerment, accelerated ratification and implementation of African Union legal instruments, and renewed commitment to ensuring that every African woman and girl lives in dignity, equality and safety. Together, African parliaments pledged to transform Pan-African Women's Day into a lasting continental movement for inclusive leadership and sustainable development.

Strong parliaments essential to achieving Agenda 2063

The First Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis Gayo, stressed that strong legislatures are essential to the implementation of Agenda 2063.

Speaking under the message, “A strong Pan-African Parliament means a stronger Africa,” Dr. Gayo urged parliaments to move beyond their traditional law-making role and become drivers of accountability, development oversight and continental transformation.

He identified the alignment of national legislation with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, strengthened parliamentary oversight, institutionalized knowledge-sharing and legislative cooperation as important priorities.

Dr. Gayo also called for the empowerment of women and young people as central actors in governance and for the acceleration of regional integration through harmonized laws.

He argued that the success of Agenda 2063 would ultimately be measured not by the number of policies adopted, but by improvements in education, employment, peace, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

He therefore urged parliamentary leaders to move “from commitment to accountability, from aspiration to measurable results.”

African Union calls for legislation, oversight and accountability

Addressing the Conference virtually on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye , described parliaments as the bridge between continental aspirations and their implementation.

He observed that achieving “The Africa We Want” requires more than political declarations. It requires effective legislation, institutional discipline, accountable governance and robust parliamentary oversight.

Ambassador Adeoye highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing peace, democracy and political stability, as well as conflict prevention, mediation and reconciliation.

He also emphasized legislative harmonization, cooperation among national, regional and continental parliaments, and parliamentary oversight of the incorporation of Agenda 2063 commitments into domestic laws, national budgets and development programs.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the African Union Commission to working with the Pan-African Parliament and Africa's legislatures to transform Agenda 2063 from a continental vision into practical benefits for citizens.

Kaberuka Calls for Greater Self-Reliance in Financing Africa's Future

Delivering a keynote presentation, Dr. Donald Kaberuka , African Union High Representative on Financing the Union and the Peace Fund, urged African leaders to recognize that the continent's future will be shaped less by external assistance than by its own policy choices and commitment to self-reliance.

He advocated stronger domestic resource mobilization, sustainable financing of the African Union, greater investment in education and healthcare, deeper domestic capital markets and long-term policy stability. Dr. Kaberuka stressed that Africa's rapidly growing population would become a demographic dividend only if governments invested consistently in human capital while strengthening governance and financing their own development agenda.

Emphasizing that "Africa can do much more for itself," he challenged parliamentary leaders to provide the legislative leadership necessary to support sustainable development financing, reminding delegates that the real question facing the continent is not whether Africa knows what to do, but whether it has the courage to act.

Nigeria highlights parliamentary reforms and citizen participation

The Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass , represented by Hon. Philip Agbese , described parliamentary diplomacy as an essential complement to executive diplomacy.

He said poverty, insecurity, unemployment, climate change, food insecurity, migration, public health concerns and infrastructure deficits transcend national borders and therefore require coordinated legislative action.

The Nigerian Speaker called on African parliaments to harmonize laws, strengthen democratic governance, promote accountability and support continental integration through sustained cooperation.

He emphasized the responsibility of national legislatures to enact enabling laws for the AfCFTA, provide oversight of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, facilitate investment and promote constitutional governance and peaceful democratic transitions.

Highlighting Nigeria's experience, the Speaker cited the advocacy of the House of Representatives for constitutional amendments to establish State Police as part of efforts to improve security and reinforce the country's federal structure.

He also highlighted the Open Parliament Initiative and the National Assembly Open Day, which has been hosted for three consecutive years to enable citizens, civil society organizations, professional bodies, young people, women, traditional institutions, the private sector, development partners and the media to engage directly with Parliament.

According to the Speaker, these initiatives have promoted transparency, accountability, citizen participation and public understanding of the legislative process.

He proposed stronger institutional cooperation among African legislatures, greater harmonization of laws in strategic sectors, enhanced parliamentary oversight of regional agreements and increased investment in research, legislative drafting, digital innovation and professional development.

He further called on African parliaments to speak with one voice in global forums on climate finance, debt sustainability, fair trade, food security, technology transfer and the reform of global governance institutions.

Azerbaijan advocates inclusive global parliamentary leadership

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hon. Sahiba Gafarova , delivered a message of solidarity reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to parliamentary cooperation with Africa based on equality, mutual respect and shared development.

She highlighted the importance of parliaments in promoting democracy, peace, sustainable development and effective multilateralism.

Hon. Gafarova called for stronger collaboration between the Pan-African Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to strengthen Africa's voice in global parliamentary affairs.

She maintained that every region should have an equal opportunity to contribute to global parliamentary leadership and pledged support for a more inclusive, representative and people-centered international parliamentary system.

ECOWAS Parliament proposes permanent cooperation mechanism

The Fourth Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Billay G. Tunkara , called for parliamentary diplomacy to move dialogue beyond practical cooperation, political coordination, legislative harmonization, knowledge-sharing and collective oversight.

Highlighting the complementary mandates of the Pan-African Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament, he proposed the establishment of a permanent cooperation framework between continental and regional parliamentary institutions.

He also recommended an African legislative harmonization program and an annual dialogue involving the parliaments of the Regional Economic Communities.

According to Hon. Tunkara , stronger parliamentary partnerships are necessary to address shared challenges such as peace and security, climate change, migration, food insecurity, digital transformation and economic integration.

“Africa's greatest achievements have always been the result of collective action,” he declared.

Second day focuses on partnerships, AfCFTA and PAP Model Laws

The second day of the Conference shifted attention towards practical measures for strengthening governance, integration and the institutional mandate of the Pan-African Parliament.

The program examined strategic partnerships for implementing the Parliament's mandate, accelerating the AfCFTA and industrialization through parliamentary action, and strengthening legislative harmonization across African Union Member States.

A major milestone was the official launch of the Pan-African Parliament's Model Laws. The instruments are intended to provide Member States with practical legislative frameworks to promote legal harmonization, good governance and the implementation of Agenda 2063.

The Conference also considered and adopted a Final Communiqué, an Action Plan and monitoring mechanisms intended to guide future cooperation among African parliaments.

Opening the second day, the Second Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings , called for partnerships that are strategic, coordinated and focused on measurable results.

“The true measure of any partnership lies not in the number of Memoranda of Understanding we sign, but in the tangible outcomes they deliver for our citizens,” she said.

She urged African institutions to move away from working in isolation and to embrace parliamentary diplomacy, legislative harmonization and coordinated action in addressing peace and security, economic integration, climate resilience, democratic governance and gender equality.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings also called on African Union Member States to accelerate the ratification of the Malabo Protocol, arguing that empowering the Pan-African Parliament as a fully functional continental legislative institution is critical to Africa's integration.

AfCFTA implementation must benefit ordinary Africans

The First Vice-President of the National Assembly of Djibouti, HE Hon. Safia Elmi Djibril , called for a people-centered approach to the implementation of the AfCFTA.

She said the success of continental economic integration would be determined by its impact on ordinary citizens, especially women, young people, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Highlighting Djibouti's strategic location as a gateway to the Red Sea and a regional logistics center, she outlined the country's contribution to trade, industrialization and regional connectivity.

Hon. Djibril argued that Africa must add value to its raw materials, create employment and strengthen domestic economies rather than continue exporting unprocessed natural resources.

She drew attention to the informal economy, where women constitute a substantial proportion of the workforce, and highlighted Djibouti's investments in microfinance, financial inclusion, literacy and digital trade facilitation.

She urged parliamentarians to enact enabling legislation, strengthen oversight and ensure that women, young people and small businesses become genuine beneficiaries of the AfCFTA and Africa's industrial transformation.

APRM Urges Parliaments to Transform Governance Assessments into Action

Addressing the Conference, HE Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre , Chief Executive Officer of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) , called on African parliaments to move beyond governance diagnostics and ensure that assessment findings are translated into concrete legislative action that improves the lives of citizens.

Drawing on more than two decades of APRM governance reviews, she observed that the Mechanism has consistently identified governance risks before crises emerge, underscoring the importance of stronger parliamentary oversight and implementation. She urged legislatures to prioritize youth employment, education and skills development, water, food and climate security, digital governance and artificial intelligence, cyber security, responsible natural resource management, industrialization, evidence-based legislation and effective oversight of public expenditure.

Ambassador Quatre also announced new APRM initiatives, including a 2027 Governance Support Program , a Continental Youth Governance Report , and a Policy Paper on E-Governance , reaffirming the APRM's commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Pan-African Parliament in advancing Agenda 2063. She concluded that Africa's progress should ultimately be measured not by the number of meetings held or reports produced, but by whether citizens experience safer, more prosperous and more hopeful lives through the decisions taken by African leaders.

From declarations to measurable results

Across the two days, participants agreed that parliamentary diplomacy must be judged by its capacity to convert continental commitments into domestic legislation, adequate budgetary allocations, effective oversight and measurable improvements in citizens' lives.

The Conference reinforced the importance of cooperation among the Pan-African Parliament, national parliaments and the legislatures of the Regional Economic Communities.

It also demonstrated growing recognition that Africa's development challenges cannot be addressed by governments acting alone. Parliaments must provide democratic legitimacy, hold executives accountable, harmonize laws and ensure that continental commitments are implemented at the national level.

Through the Final Communiqué, Action Plan and monitoring arrangements, the parliamentary leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to integration, accountable governance, sustainable development and prosperity.

The central message of the Conference was clear: Africa's future will not be determined merely by the declarations, policies or agreements adopted by its institutions, but by the extent to which parliamentary cooperation delivers concrete results for its people.