In a move to bolster continental governance, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, hosted the leadership of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the AU headquarters this afternoon to discuss the future of the legislative body.
The high-level meeting between Chairperson Youssouf and the President of the PAP, H.E. Hon. Chief Charumbira, focused on the Parliament’s evolving role within the AU’s institutional framework. Highlighting the PAP’s mandate under the Abuja Treaty, Youssouf described the body as a vital platform for ensuring African citizens have a direct voice in the governance of the continent.
During the exchange, Chairperson Youssouf linked the Parliament’s success to the broader AU institutional reform agenda. He stressed that for the PAP to remain relevant, it must operate as a rules-based and credible organ that adheres strictly to its founding legal texts.
“I encourage the Bureau to advance timely electoral processes and institutional consolidation to enhance accountability, predictability, and impact,” Youssouf stated, emphasizing that internal stability is key to the Parliament’s effectiveness.
In response, Hon. Chief Charumbira expressed his gratitude for the Chairperson’s support and reaffirmed the PAP’s dedication to the Union’s goals. He noted that the Parliament is committed to working in lockstep with the AU Commission and other policy organs to ensure that the Agenda 2063 objectives are met through democratic participation.
The meeting concludes a series of consultations aimed at refining the AU’s institutional architecture, with both leaders agreeing that a more transparent and predictable Pan-African Parliament is essential for the continent’s democratic future.
