Consultative Meeting Between the PSC and the PAP

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) is today convening its 1362nd Session dedicated to a Consultation between the PSC and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).

The President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig, the PSC Chair for the month and Permanent Representative of Algeria to the AU, H.E. Mohamed Khaled and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Bankole Adeoye delivered the opening remarks of this high level consultation.

This will be the Seventh Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament’s first time briefing the PSC following its election in April 2026. It is worth recalling that the annual engagement emanates from the decision of the 1160th Meeting held in June 2023, which was dedicated to the annual consultative meeting between the two bodies. From the meeting, the two bodies decided to institutionalise and regularise their annual joint meeting on peace and security in Africa, to be hosted alternately between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Midrand, South Africa.

The annual consultation is grounded in two complementary legal foundations. First, the mandates of the Pan-African Parliament and the PSC are closely linked. According to the 2001 Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament, one of the Parliament’s central objectives is to promote peace, security and stability.

As a result, the Pan-African Parliament’s mandate has a component that overlaps with that of the PSC, even though the PSC retains primary responsibility for peace and security matters. Second, and more importantly, the session will also be held pursuant to Article 18 of the PSC Protocol. This provision calls for a close working relationship between the PSC and the PAP, in recognition of the complementary nature of the roles each body plays in advancing peace, security and stability across the continent.

This year’s meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, building on the 1290th meeting held in July 2025, in which it adopted the Conclusions of their Inaugural Joint Consultative meeting held on 17 and 18 July 2025 in Midrand, South Africa. In an effort to give greater structure and substance to their cooperation, the two bodies agreed on several concrete steps to strengthen their collaboration. These commitments are expected to be central to this year’s discussions, alongside an update on activities conducted since the past interaction vis-à-vis issues related to advancing peace, security and stability in Africa.

The President of the Pan-African Parliament is leading delegation comprised of members of the Bureau including First Vice President, Hon. Gayo Ashebir, Third Vice President, Hon. Abba Djidda Mamar Mht, Fourth Vice President, Hon. Dr. Arlete Borges; several members of the Pan-African Parliament and the Clerk of Parliament and Senior Staff.

Per Kind Favour of APO

Africa Fact: Toilets and sewerage systems existed in ancient Egypt. One of the pharaohs built a city now known as Amarna. An American urban planner noted that: “Great importance was attached to cleanliness in Amarna as in other Egyptian cities. Toilets and sewers were in use to dispose waste. Soap was made for washing the body. Perfumes and essences were popular against body odour. A solution of natron was used to keep insects from houses . . . Amarna may have been the first planned ‘garden city’.”