African Union Leaders Reaffirm Governance as Pillar of Continental Development at APRM Forum
ADDIS ABABA — The African Union’s peer review body remains central to the continent’s pursuit of sustainable peace and inclusive growth, the Chairperson of the AU Commission declared during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the recent AU Summit.
Addressing the 35th Forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on Monday, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized that effective governance is the non-negotiable foundation of the AU’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s overarching blueprint for socio-economic transformation.
“Governance is the cornerstone of peace, resilience, and inclusive growth under Agenda 2063,” Mahamat stated, reinforcing a core principle of the African Union’s long-term strategy. His remarks come as the APRM, a voluntary self-monitoring instrument, celebrates two decades of operation.
The Chairperson highlighted the unique value of the APRM’s model, which is based on peer learning and mutual accountability among member states. He argued this approach strengthens national institutions, drives essential reforms, and facilitates the sharing of best practices across the continent.
“The APRM’s voluntary, peer-based model strengthens accountability, institutional reform, and shared learning,” Mahamat said. He positioned this process as a critical driver for advancing Africa’s collective commitment to democratic governance, economic transformation, and sustainable development.
The forum serves as a key platform for reviewing governance and socio-economic progress in member states that have voluntarily undergone the APRM review process. It also sets strategic direction for the mechanism as it adapts to emerging continental challenges.
By reiterating the link between the APRM’s work and Agenda 2063’s aspirations, the AU leadership underscored the mechanism’s enduring relevance. The discussion focused on how enhanced governance practices identified through peer review can directly contribute to the agenda’s goals of prosperity, integration, and peace.
The meeting concluded with a call for renewed engagement from member states to fully utilize the APRM framework. The significance of this reaffirmation lies in its timing, as the continent continues to navigate complex security and development landscapes. The APRM’s next steps will involve supporting countries in implementing review recommendations, thereby translating peer advice into tangible policy improvements on the ground.
