AUC Chairperson Reaffirms Support for Pan-African Parliament and Stronger Institutional Cooperation

AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and PAP President Fateh Boutbig agree to strengthen cooperation on Agenda 2063 and African integration.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the Pan-African Parliament as it works to advance African integration, development and the effective implementation of Agenda 2063.

The commitment was made during a meeting with the President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig, and members of the Parliament’s Bureau at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 20 August 2026.

The high-level engagement focused on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the African Union Commission and the Pan-African Parliament, particularly in areas where closer institutional collaboration can accelerate the implementation of continental priorities.

Chairperson Youssouf welcomed the delegation and expressed the Commission’s readiness to work closely with the continental Parliament in advancing Africa’s integration, development and unity objectives.

According to the official statement issued by the Pan-African Parliament, both sides emphasized the need for stronger coordination between African Union organs and institutions to support the effective implementation of Agenda 2063.

Strengthening cooperation within the African Union

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two institutions to exchange views on how to deepen institutional collaboration and reinforce complementarity across the African Union system.

Effective cooperation between the Commission and the Pan-African Parliament is essential because the two institutions perform distinct but mutually reinforcing functions. While the Commission helps formulate, coordinate and implement African Union programmes and decisions, the Parliament provides a continental platform through which parliamentarians can represent the perspectives and aspirations of African citizens.

Closer coordination can help connect continental policy formulation with parliamentary deliberation, advocacy, oversight and engagement with national and regional legislatures. It can also promote greater coherence in the implementation of African Union programmes at continental, regional and national levels.

The discussions therefore went beyond relations between the two institutions. They addressed the broader need to strengthen collective African action and make the African Union more responsive to the needs and expectations of the continent’s people.

Supporting the mandate of the Pan-African Parliament

Chairperson Youssouf reaffirmed the Commission’s support for the Pan-African Parliament in fulfilling its mandate and contributing more effectively to Africa’s development and integration agenda.

The assurance is particularly significant as the Parliament’s Seventh Legislature, led by President Boutbig, seeks to strengthen the institution’s effectiveness and reinforce its position within the African Union architecture.

President Boutbig and the current Bureau assumed leadership of the Parliament following elections held during the Extraordinary Session of the Seventh Legislature on 30 April 2026. The Bureau comprises the President and four Vice-Presidents representing the five regions of Africa.

Under the PAP’s institutional framework, the Bureau provides strategic leadership and oversees the administration and effective functioning of the Parliament. Its responsibilities include coordinating parliamentary structures, preparing programmes and draft budgets, managing institutional affairs and helping ensure that the Parliament can discharge its continental mandate.

The new leadership has placed cooperation with African Union organs, national and regional parliaments, Regional Economic Communities and strategic partners at the centre of its institutional agenda.

From institutional dialogue to implementation

The Addis Ababa meeting represents an important step towards building a more structured relationship between the Commission and the Pan-African Parliament. Its lasting value, however, will depend on whether the commitments made are translated into practical and measurable institutional action.

Enhanced cooperation could assist the Parliament in addressing challenges relating to institutional capacity, administrative effectiveness, financial sustainability and the implementation of African Union decisions affecting its work.

It could also strengthen the contribution of parliamentarians to key continental priorities, including peace and security, democratic governance, economic integration, implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, climate resilience, gender equality and youth participation.

For the Pan-African Parliament, stronger relations with the Commission can provide improved access to policy information, technical expertise and continental programmes. For the Commission, closer engagement with the Parliament offers an important channel for mobilising legislators, national parliaments and citizens behind African Union initiatives.

Advancing the aspirations of African citizens

The meeting forms part of the Pan-African Parliament’s continuing efforts to deepen its engagement with other organs and institutions of the African Union.

These engagements are intended to reinforce the Parliament’s role as the voice of African peoples and ensure that citizens’ concerns are more effectively reflected in continental policymaking and implementation.

Agenda 2063 envisages an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens. Achieving that vision requires not only strong policies but also institutions capable of working together, mobilizing political support and ensuring that continental commitments produce tangible results.

The renewed commitment by Chairperson Youssouf and President Boutbig therefore signals a shared recognition that institutional cooperation must become a practical instrument for achieving Africa’s priorities.

As the Pan-African Parliament enters a new phase under its Seventh Legislature, the Addis Ababa engagement offers an opportunity to move from general expressions of cooperation towards sustained coordination, clearly defined implementation priorities and measurable outcomes for African citizens.