PAP President Fateh Boutbig Arrives in Baku for High-Level Talks

PAP President Dr. Fateh Boutbig has arrived in Baku for talks aimed at strengthening Africa–Azerbaijan relations and parliamentary cooperation.

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig, has arrived in Baku ahead of an official visit aimed at strengthening parliamentary and diplomatic relations between Africa and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Dr. Boutbig arrived in the Azerbaijani capital on Monday, 15 September 2026, for the bilateral visit to the Milli Majlis the Parliament of Azerbaijan scheduled to take place from 16 to 18 September.

The PAP delegation was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Hon. Eyvaz Gurbanov and other Azerbaijani officials. The Milli Majlis identified Gurbanov as the head of its working group on inter-parliamentary relations with The Gambia.

Accompanying the PAP President are Hon. Djidda Mamar Mahamat, Third Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament; Hon. Dr. Arlete Borges, Fourth Vice-President; and Hon. Yosri Baouab, Chairperson of the PAP Northern Regional Caucus.

Their participation gives the mission broad institutional and regional significance as the leadership of the Seventh Legislature seeks to expand the Parliament’s international engagements.

High-level talks at the Milli Majlis

The visit will feature bilateral talks between Dr. Boutbig and H.E. Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The discussions are expected to focus on parliamentary diplomacy, Africa–Azerbaijan relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The PAP delegation will also engage inter-parliamentary working groups at the Milli Majlis to explore opportunities for more structured cooperation between the two institutions.

Such engagements could create a foundation for regular consultations, exchanges between parliamentary committees, cooperation among officials and coordinated participation in international parliamentary forums.

The programme also includes a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov. The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on strengthening political and institutional relations between Azerbaijan and African countries.

It will also broaden the visit beyond parliament-to-parliament relations by connecting parliamentary diplomacy with wider Africa–Azerbaijan cooperation.

Visit builds on Midrand engagement

The Baku mission follows Speaker Gafarova’s participation in the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament and the Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 31 July to 1 August 2026.

During her visit to South Africa, Speaker Gafarova met Dr. Boutbig and discussed the development of relations between Azerbaijan and African countries, prospects for inter-parliamentary cooperation and other matters of shared interest.

Dr. Boutbig described Azerbaijan as a reliable partner of African countries and stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening relations between peoples and advancing common interests.

Speaker Gafarova expressed Azerbaijan’s interest in expanding its relations with Africa through stronger political dialogue, greater mutual trust and cooperation in new areas. She also invited the PAP leadership to visit Azerbaijan, paving the way for the present mission.

The two leaders further discussed possible cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as coordination within other international parliamentary organisations.

Parliamentary diplomacy beyond formal relations

The visit comes at a time when the Pan-African Parliament is placing renewed emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy as an instrument for promoting Africa’s interests and building partnerships beyond the continent.

Parliamentary diplomacy enables legislators and parliamentary institutions to complement conventional government-to-government engagement. It provides channels for political dialogue, exchange of legislative experience, institutional capacity-building and cooperation on challenges that cross national boundaries.

For the Pan-African Parliament, the engagement in Baku presents an opportunity to project Africa’s development priorities and promote the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

For Azerbaijan, the visit provides a platform to deepen engagement with the institution created to represent the peoples of Africa and to develop stronger relations with national and regional parliaments across the continent.

Azerbaijan has previously expressed its commitment to strengthening multilateralism and expanding cooperation with Africa. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has highlighted the African Union’s contribution to peace, security, economic integration and development while indicating Azerbaijan’s readiness to broaden relations with African states.

Honouring Azerbaijan’s national history

As part of the official programme, the PAP delegation will visit the Victory Monument and pay tribute to Azerbaijan’s National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, at the Alley of Honour.

The commemorative visits will precede the delegation’s formal engagements and reflect the diplomatic tradition of honouring the history and national identity of the host country.

Beyond their ceremonial importance, they will introduce the visiting African parliamentarians to aspects of Azerbaijan’s political history and national experience.

From goodwill to institutional cooperation

The Baku visit represents a progression from the initial dialogue between Dr. Boutbig and Speaker Gafarova to direct institutional engagement involving members of the PAP Bureau, the Northern Caucus and Azerbaijani parliamentary working groups.

Its lasting significance, however, will depend on whether the goodwill expressed by both sides is translated into practical and sustainable cooperation.

Possible areas for follow-up could include regular parliamentary consultations, committee-level exchanges, institutional capacity-building and joint engagement within multilateral parliamentary organizations.

As global challenges increasingly require cooperation across regions, the visit demonstrates how parliamentary institutions can complement executive diplomacy, strengthen understanding between peoples and create new channels for mutually beneficial partnerships.

The engagements from 16 to 18 September are therefore expected to mark an important stage in the development of relations between the Pan-African Parliament and Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis and in the broader effort to connect Africa more closely with partners across the Global South.