Midrand, South Africa – July 21, 2025 — In a significant milestone for Africa’s governance and institutional development agenda, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize and strengthen collaboration between the two African Union (AU) organs.
The agreement, signed at PAP’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, is being hailed as a crucial step towards building a more coordinated and effective governance architecture on the continent. It lays the foundation for structured engagement in promoting transparency, accountability, democratic consolidation, and citizen participation across Africa.
A Strategic Alliance for Continental Impact
With both institutions playing pivotal roles in AU efforts to promote good governance and development, the MoU creates a clear and actionable framework for joint country assessments, legislative engagement, and capacity building. This move is expected to bridge long-standing gaps in AU institutional coordination and ensure that governance reforms translate into tangible outcomes for African citizens.
Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, CEO of the APRM, described the agreement as “historic,” noting that it marks a shift from sporadic collaboration to a sustained strategic alliance.
“This MoU reflects our shared responsibility to promote democracy, peace, and inclusive development,” she said. “By engaging national and continental parliaments as active partners in the APRM process, we ensure that review outcomes are not just recommendations but drivers of policy reform and accountability.”
A New Era of Institutional Cohesion
PAP President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, emphasized that the agreement is not only timely but transformational.
“This MoU marks a decisive turn from words to action,” he said. “It positions the Pan-African Parliament to play a more proactive role in translating governance assessments into legislative priorities and reforms that directly benefit our people.”
He stressed that the partnership will empower PAP to track the implementation of APRM’s National Programmes of Action and elevate governance discourse from the margins of AU processes to the center of parliamentary work.
“Our collaboration will serve as a model for institutional synergy within the African Union. It is through unity of purpose that we can respond effectively to Africa’s governance and development challenges,” he added.
Strengthening the African Governance Architecture
Also speaking at the signing was H.E. Professor Miguel Domingos Bembe, Chairperson of the AU’s Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), who framed the agreement as a critical contribution to the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the goals of Agenda 2063.
“This partnership underscores the importance of internal coherence among AU organs,” he stated. “When our institutions work together, we increase our collective capacity to build a more just, peaceful, and accountable Africa.”
Professor Bembe encouraged other AU organs to adopt similar collaborative frameworks to harness shared mandates and resources for maximum impact.
Next Steps: From Paper to Action
The MoU outlines a Joint Action Plan that will guide activities such as joint country review missions, technical support to parliaments, knowledge sharing, and policy alignment. Administrative leaders from both institutions—including PAP Clerk Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo—participated in the signing ceremony, underscoring the commitment at all levels to make the partnership a success.
As Africa continues its journey toward sustainable development and democratic maturity, the PAP-APRM MoU stands out as a practical and visionary step to ensure that governance reforms are inclusive, actionable, and deeply rooted in the oversight functions of representative institutions.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
