The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti has reaffirmed that governance remains the cornerstone of peace, resilience and inclusive growth under the AU Agenda 2063.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission stated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, addressing the 35th Forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on the sidelines of the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union scheduled for February 14 to 15, 2026,
Mr Youssouf underscored that the APRM’s voluntary, peer-based model strengthens accountability, institutional reform and shared learning, thereby advancing Africa’s collective commitment to democratic principles, economic transformation & sustainable development.
The assembly will focus on the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” AU document obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Accra stated.
The 35th APRM Forum was a significant event in the African continent’s governance and development discussions, as it also marked the handing over of the rotating presidency from with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The forum also featured a speech by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, who expressed readiness to undergo a thorough peer review under the APRM.
The forum’s activities included targeted reviews on various issues, such as youth unemployment and the implementation of national development plans.
African Union
President Tebboune, in his handing over speech, express deep gratitude for the trust placed in Algeria over the past two years of its leadership of our Forum.
“It has been a great honour for us to serve our continent by guiding the work of the Forum and contributing to the promotion of governance and development in our countries,” the Algerian President stated.
The Algerian president, whose speech was delivered on his behalf by his prime minister, Sifi Ghrieb, stated, “Your Excellency, dear brother, Yoweri Kaguta, today, with a profound sense of responsibility and full confidence in the future of our mechanism, I officially hand over the chairmanship of the Forum to the sisterly Republic of Uganda.”
“Under your wise leadership, Museveni, President of the sister Republic of Uganda I official handover the chairmanship of the African Peer Review Mechanism Forum to you. I wish you the best as the Chairman of the APRM forum.”
He noted: In this context, I would like to reaffirm Algeria’s full commitment to accompanying Uganda throughout its chairmanship.
“We will continue to work side by side with the Forum to promote cooperation and collective action, supporting peer review processes as a strategic tool for good governance and the consolidation of African mechanisms in the service of Agenda 2063.
“Our countries have always worked each according to its vision and position for a more united and powerful Africa, in control of its own destiny,” the Algerian President stated.
The APRM Forum outgoing Chairman noted: “I am, therefore, confident that this tradition of fraternal cooperation will continue to enrich and support the work of the Forum under the Ugandan presidency.
“Mr President and dear brother, I wish you every success and reaffirm Algeria’s unwavering commitment to contributing to the fruitful advancement of our African mechanism. Thank you.”
Algeria has chaired the Forum of Heads of State and Government of the APRM since 2024. The mechanism examines, in particular, issues related to the promotion of good governance, strengthening peace and security, integration among African states and enhancing effective continental action.
The 35th session focuses on five thematic areas of the APRM: democracy and political governance; economic governance and management; corporate governance; socio-economic development; and states’ resilience to shocks and disasters.
Participants review several countries’ voluntary national review reports, exchange views on progress made in implementing previous recommendations and consider ways to strengthen the effectiveness of the mechanism and expand membership.
They also examine current challenges facing the continent, particularly issues related to peace and security, sustainable development and financing of reform programmes.
The APRM was established in 2003 to assess governance practices through peer review. Membership in the mechanism is voluntary.
The APRM is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by AU member States as an African self-monitoring mechanism. The APRM is often described as “Africa’s unique and innovative approach to governance” with the objective of improving governance dynamics at the local, national and continental levels.
The APRM was adopted by African Heads of State and Government as a systematic peer learning and self-assessment mechanism originating from the NEPAD foundational document, the “Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance” adopted in Durban, South Africa in July 2002.
