United African Royal Assembly

27/10/2025

27/10/2025

AU Commission Chairperson Reiterates Call for the Immediate and Unconditional Lifting of Sanctions Against Zimbabwe.

On the occasion of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has once again issued a firm and unequivocal call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all unilateral sanctions imposed against the Republic of Zimbabwe.

The AUC Chairperson reaffirms the African Union’s full solidarity with Zimbabwe and its people and aligns the continental body completely with the position articulated by SADC. He expressed profound concern over the continued negative impact of these coercive measures, which have persisted for far too long.

“These unilateral sanctions represent a significant impediment to the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region,” stated H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. “They have severely constrained Zimbabwe’s access to international finance, deterred foreign direct investment, and increased the cost of doing business, thereby undermining our collective efforts to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

The AUC Chairperson emphasized that the sanctions have directly hampered Zimbabwe’s progress towards its national development strategy, Vision 2030, and have negatively affected regional macroeconomic convergence and integration targets within SADC.

In conclusion, the AUC Chairperson reiterated the African Union’s unwavering commitment to continue mobilizing support for the brotherly nation of Zimbabwe until these punitive measures are fully lifted, allowing the country to realize its full potential for the prosperity of its people and the continent.

Read @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20251025/auc-chairperson-reiterates-call-lifting-sanctions-against-zimbabwe

27/10/2025

The 2ND Africa-CARICOM SUMMIT- Building Bridges from the Caribbean to Africa.

The 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit has brought together African nations, Caribbean states, and the global African diaspora to strengthen unity, deepen integration, and jointly pursue reparations and reparatory justice through a comprehensive transcontinental partnership framework, under the theme: “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The Africa-CARICOM Summit is a gathering of African and Caribbean leaders aimed at strengthening the historic ties between the two regions and turning past injustices, including slavery and colonization, into opportunities for solidarity, cooperation, and reparative justice. The Summit focuses on political, economic, social, and cultural collaboration, advancing trade, investment, innovation, youth engagement, and shared development. The summit seeks to coordinate efforts on reparations, promote global advocacy, reform multidimensional institutions, and ensure that Africa and the Caribbean speak with one voice on the international stage. The Summit also emphasizes building lasting partnerships that uplift future generations, address structural inequalities, and create shared prosperity, well-being, and progress. The Summit highlighted the deep historic ties between Africa and the Caribbean. They emphasized solidarity, cooperation, and reparative justice, while outlining shared goals in trade, investment, innovation, and youth engagement, and called for a united voice on the global stage to advance prosperity and equity for all peoples of African descent.

The 2nd African-CRICOM was declared open by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union. Highlighted that the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit brings leaders together to transform past injustices into solidarity, cooperation, and justice. The 2025 summit builds on the first Summit held in 2021 and aims to reaffirm dignity, promote political, economic, social, and cultural cooperation, and advance reparative justice for Africans and Afro-descendants. Progress includes trade and investment initiatives, such as the AfreximBank office in the Caribbean, the Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and CARICOM. Furthermore, he said the Summit underlines implementing decisions for lasting benefits, reforms in global financial architecture, youth engagement, and joint multilateral action, while expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Dr. Carla Barnett, secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), stated in her opening speech that the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit represents a homecoming for the Caribbean, reconnecting people separated by ocean, colonialism, and economic systems, but united through shared heritage. The Summit aims to strengthen partnerships in areas like health, trade, transportation, and investment, with initiatives such as the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and the Afreximbank partnership advancing collaboration. She emphasizes joint advocacy for financial reform, addressing the impacts of climate change, and increasing trade and investment. She noted that The Summit also focuses on reparations, with CARICOM’s Reparations Commission leading the justice movement, acknowledging the injustices of colonialism and the Transatlantic Slave Trade by Guided by Pan-African ideals, the Summit seeks to send a powerful message of cooperation, marking a historic step in deepening Africa-CARICOM relations.

Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and the Head of the, United Nations Office to the African Union emphasized that the world must recognize that Africa and the Caribbean are victims of two compounded injustices: the impact of colonialism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and the fact that we were under colonial domination when today’s multilateral system was created. Decolonization alone was not enough, as political independence did not free countries from structures of exploitation and decades of underinvestment, highlighting the need for reparatory justice frameworks. Through collective advocacy, this historical injustice is now acknowledged. The United Nations supports reforming global institutions such as the Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions, with the Secretary-General vocal on this issue. People hope for a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity, which forms a common cause between Africa and the Caribbean. Correcting age-old injustices is essential to addressing present challenges, and many solutions already exist, as reflected in the ‘Pact for the Future’ adopted by the General Assembly last September. He urged that the future should prioritize dialogue and negotiation, end wars, leverage modern technologies like artificial intelligence, and usher in relations between nations based on sovereign equality, collective peace and security, and shared prosperity in greater freedom.

His Excellency, Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, highlighted that the Africa-CARICOM partnership is deliberate, purposeful, and lasting, built to address global challenges that require regional unity. Africa and the Caribbean bring complementary strengths, and together these are multiplied. Ethiopia’s experience with Medemer demonstrates the power of unity, deliberate action, and local solutions in driving progress through connection, culture, innovation, knowledge, and collective effort. Building on the first AU–CARICOM Summit, the “Bridges of Unity” initiative focuses on Agriculture and Digital Innovation, Innovation and Collaboration, Culture and Leadership, and Knowledge and Health, linking universities, economies, and cultures. Despite adversity, both regions now choose to face challenges together, defining their own solutions and future.

His Excellency, Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and incoming President of the Caribbean Community, emphasized that the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit is a moment of reunion and a call for unity, remembrance, and acknowledgement of past injustices caused by the Slave Trade, slavery, and colonization. Repentance alone is no longer sufficient; demands for reparations are legitimate in addressing structural inequalities. The and must strengthen solidarity, coordinate efforts through a Joint Mechanism, and promote investment, trade, innovation, and research between the regions. Africa and the Caribbean represent one-fifth of humanity and should speak with one voice on all international platforms to demand recognition of historic crimes, meaningful reparations, and the dismantling of systemic injustice. This summit marks a turning point to honor ancestors, uplift descendants, and reclaim a shared destiny in freedom, justice, and unity.

Read @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20250908/2nd-africa-caricom-summit-building-bridges-caribbean-africa

27/10/2025

Seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting: Heads of State and Government Conclude Significant Discussions on Development and Continental Integration.

The Heads of State and Government, representing the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) and Chairpersons of the Eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs), convened on 13 July 2025 at the Sipopo Conference Center in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the Seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. The meeting was chaired by H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), in the presence of H.E Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Representatives from AU Member States, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, AU Commissioners, dignitaries and invited guests.

Addressing the participants, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union stated that, “Regional integration in Africa is not merely a political, economic, and social ideal, it is a strategic necessity for our continent, which is marked by colonial era borders that often overlook the cultural, social, and economic realities of our peoples”. Highlighting the significant challenges on the collective goals for sustainable development and economic growth, due to the slow progress in productive and infrastructural integration across the continent, the Chair of the African Union said, “As we move forward, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing these challenges through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing integration and fostering prosperity for all African nations”.

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in his opening remarks, underlined Africa’s critical role on a rapidly changing world. "Our continent must position itself with strength and determination, primarily through the acceleration of integration, which is facilitated by the AfCFTA, the African single market, and the African single currency….We hold 50% of the world's manganese reserves, 80% of platinum, and 47% of cobalt; the transformation of African agricultural products offers opportunities to consolidate the value chain; the direct foreign investments remain essential, having reached $52.6 billion, while monetary transfers approached $95 billion." Noted the AUC Chairperson.

Chairperson Youssouf emphasised the crucial importance of the AfCFTA and the digital transformation for Africa’s development agenda. "Our African Continental Free Trade Area remains the cornerstone of intra-African trade expansion, with expectations of over 50% growth by 2035. We must continue to dismantle both tariff and non-tariff barriers to achieve our ambitions." He added that, "Digital transformation is key to enhancing productivity across critical sectors in our economies. Countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria are already witnessing the benefits of embracing digital innovation." Read the full statement of the Chairperson on https://au.int/en/summit/mycm/7

H.E Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, on his part, focused on the AU theme of the year 2025. "The annual theme guiding our Union in 2025, 'Justice for Africans and Afro-descendants through Reparations,' calls us to reflect deeply on our history and identity. True justice is inseparable from present and future development…We reaffirmed our commitment to the spirit and objectives of the Theme of the Year. There can be no African unity without memory, no peace without recognition, and no development without moral, cultural, and economic reparations." Noted President Obiang. The President explained that “ensuring justice and equity for all African peoples, including our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, is a concrete step towards a culturally strong Africa, aligned with the pillars of Agenda 2063…We envision an Africa that raises its collective voice clearly and powerfully on the global stage, claiming its rightful role in international decision-making processes."

President Obiang further noted the historic milestone that the AfCFTA stands in unifying African markets, creating the world’s largest trade agreement by number of the participating countries and a market chain of over 1.3 billion consumers. “The positive signs of increasing intra-African trade during the initial phases of the AfCFTA implementation inspire us to continue our collective and individual efforts towards a promising economic horizon for our continent.” Concluded President Obiang.

During the deleberations the meeting took note of the progress report presented by H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission regarding the theme of the year 2025. The meeting endorsed the recommendations contained in this report and welcomed the progress achieved in systemwide coordination and mainstreaming of the theme throughout the AU system.

Participants at the meeting discussed the meeting’s agenda items including a progress review of regional and continental integration, and they considered various reports highlighting advancements made across the strategic pillars of integration: political, economic, infrastructure and human development.
Citing the outcomes of the previous six Mid Year Coordination Meeting declaration, the meeting stressed on the critical need to foster deeper continental integration and collective prosperity, guided by the findings of the 2025 Africa Regional Integration Report, which is based on the Africa Synthetic Regional Integration Index (ASRII) Report. While recognizing that Africa’s strongest integration performance is evident in the free movement of people, goods, and services, as well as macroeconomic coordination, the Heads of State expressed concern regarding the continent’s average integration performance as highlighted in the 2025 Africa Regional Integration Report.

Read @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20250715/7mycm-significant-discussions-development-and-continental-integration

27/10/2025

27/10/2025

Did you know? The African Union now has a strong presence on the global stage with representation offices in Beijing, Brussels, Geneva, New York, and Washington DC.
Our Beijing office marks a historic milestone as our first-ever South-South cooperation office outside Africa.

27/10/2025

H.E. João Lourenço ,Angola is the African Union Chairperson 2025,

📋Bureau of the Assembly 2025
- AU Chair –Republic of Angola - Southern region
- 1st Vice –Republic of Burundi -Central Region
- 2nd Vice –Republic of Ghana -Western Region
- 3rd Vice –United Republic of Tanzania - Eastern region
- Rapporteur –Islamic Republic of Mauritania - Northern Region

27/10/2025

MEDIA ADVISORY - 13TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS OF AFRICAN NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PARLIAMENTS

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

WHEN: 29 September 2025 at 9:00AM SAST
WHERE: PAP Headquarters, 19 Richard’s Drive, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, South Africa
THEME: “Transforming Parliaments for Citizen-Driven Continental Integration, Sustainable Development, Prosperity and Peace, and Enhancing Africa’s Dynamic Role on the Global Stage”

This two-day conference will bring together parliamentarians, government officials, civil society, academia, AU institutions, and the diplomatic corps to discuss Africa’s integration, sustainable development, digital transformation, and parliamentary diplomacy.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Inbox to request link to register

27/10/2025