By Binta Jaiteh
Two of the African Union (AU) organs Thursday engaged on consultations to push forward for greater peace, security and stability across the African continent.
The AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened its 1362nd session for consultations with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on peace, security and stability in Africa.
The high-level meeting brought together PAP President Dr Fateh Boutbig, PSC Chair for August and Permanent Representative of Algeria to the AU, Mohamed Khaled, and AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, who delivered opening remarks.
The meeting marks the first briefing of the PSC by the Bureau of the Seventh Pan-African Parliament since its election in April 2026.
The annual consultation follows a decision adopted at the PSC’s 1160th meeting in June 2023 to institutionalize regular joint consultations between the two AU organs on peace and security matters.
The meetings are to be held alternately in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Midrand, South Africa.
The consultations are based on the complementary mandates of the PSC and PAP. Under the 2001 Protocol establishing the Pan-African Parliament, the PAP is mandated, among other objectives, to promote peace, security and stability on the continent.
The PSC, however, retains the primary responsibility for peace and security matters within the AU framework.
The engagement also derives from Article 18 of the PSC Protocol, which calls for close cooperation between the PSC and the PAP in recognition of their complementary roles in promoting peace, security and stability in Africa.
This year’s meeting builds on the 1290th PSC meeting held in July 2025, which adopted the conclusions of the inaugural joint consultative meeting between the two bodies held on 17 and 18 July 2025 in Midrand.
During that meeting, the PSC and PAP agreed on a number of measures aimed at strengthening cooperation and giving greater structure to their engagement.
The current consultation is expected to review progress in implementing those commitments and assess developments in promoting peace, security and stability across the continent.
The PAP delegation is led by President Boutbig and includes First Vice President Gayo Ashebir, Third Vice President Abba Djidda Mamar Mht, Fourth Vice President Dr Arlete Borges, members of Parliament’s Bureau, the Clerk of Parliament and senior staff.
The meeting comes shortly after the PAP’s First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Legislature, during which the continental Parliament launched three new model laws on gender equality and equity, labour migration and sustainable soil management.
The model laws are intended to provide voluntary legislative frameworks to assist AU member states in developing and strengthening national legislation in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063.
The initiative follows a recommendation from the inaugural PSC-PAP consultation calling for stronger legislative support for the implementation of Agenda 2063.
AU member states have been encouraged to integrate the continental development agenda into national policies and programmes and align their development plans, legislation and priorities with its objectives.