African Union’s 51st PRC Session Concludes, Sets Course for Agenda 2063 Priorities

The African Union has concluded the 51st Ordinary Session of its Committee of Permanent Representatives (PRC) in Addis Ababa, closing two weeks of intensive deliberations focused on advancing Agenda 2063, the continent’s long‑term development blueprint.

The session finalized draft agendas and work programs ahead of the forthcoming meetings of the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Deliberations covered core continental priorities, including peace and security, governance reforms, inclusive economic growth, education, public health, and Africa’s positioning in global affairs.

Leadership, Consensus, and Strategic Focus

Opening the session on behalf of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi commended the PRC for its disciplined, consensus‑driven approach. She praised the committee’s work under the leadership of PRC Chair Miguel César Domingos Bembé of Angola, noting the effectiveness of the review process in refining the Union’s agenda.

Amb. Haddadi underscored the AU’s 2026 theme—“Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” She highlighted water’s expanding role in development, resilience, and geopolitics, and emphasized the need for coordinated continental action to translate policy into impact.

Governance, Accountability, and Readiness

On administrative and financial matters, the Deputy Chairperson welcomed the PRC’s commitment to transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. She encouraged further measures to strengthen operational standards across the AU Commission and Union organs, reinforcing institutional readiness ahead of key statutory meetings.

Unity and the 2026 Chairmanship

In his closing remarks, PRC Chair Amb. Prof. Bembé stressed unity, multilateralism, and collective action as essential to delivering Africa’s priorities. He thanked Member States and AU institutions for their cooperation and expressed full support for Burundi as it assumes the AU’s rotating chairmanship in 2026 under the water and sanitation theme.

The session concluded with ambassadors reviewing reports from PRC sub‑committees, the AU Commission, and specialized agencies, before adopting the session report and draft decisions for the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, scheduled for February 11, 2026.