JOHANNESBURG, September 9, 2026
— President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Dr. Fatah Boutbig, has reaffirmed the continental legislature’s commitment to advancing African unity, integration, good governance, peace and shared prosperity as the continent commemorates African Union Day.
In a statement marking the occasion, Dr. Boutbig described African Union Day as a defining moment in Africa’s journey towards greater unity, solidarity and integration.
He recalled that on September 9, 1999, African Heads of State and Government adopted the historic Sirte Declaration, which called for the establishment of the African Union and accelerated the process of political and economic integration across the continent.
The vision culminated in the official launch of the African Union in Durban, South Africa, in 2002.Dr. Boutbig said the commemoration provided an opportunity to honour the vision of Africa’s founding fathers and successive generations of leaders who recognised that the continent’s strength lies in its unity and the collective determination of its people to shape their own destiny.
PAP’s role
According to him, the Pan-African Parliament remains one of the key institutions created from the vision of an integrated and people-centred Africa.
Established as an organ of the African Union, the PAP provides institutional expression to the aspiration for greater involvement of African citizens in the continent’s development, integration and decision-making processes.
“As the parliamentary arm of the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament has a critical responsibility to bring the Union closer to the people and ensure that the aspirations of African citizens remain at the heart of the continental agenda,” he said.
The PAP President further said the Seventh Legislature of the continental Parliament was committed to strengthening the institution’s mandate and contributing meaningfully to the realisation of **Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want**.
He said the Parliament would work with national and regional parliaments, AU organs, Member States and citizens to advance integration, good governance, peace and security, sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Renewing Pan-African commitment
Dr. Boutbig stressed that the vision proclaimed through the Sirte Declaration remains as relevant today as it was in 1999.“Our responsibility is to translate that vision into tangible progress for the people of Africa,” he said.
He therefore called for a renewed commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the building of a united, peaceful, prosperous and people-driven Africa.
He ended the statement with a message of goodwill to Africans across the continent and the diaspora: “Happy African Union Day!”
Source: parliamentnews360.com
