Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, represented South Africa at the 35th Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum and the inaugural meeting of the Committee of Heads of State and Government on the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The high-level engagements took place at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.
Strengthening Governance Across the Continent
The APRM Forum — the Mechanism’s highest decision-making body — brought together Heads of State and Government to reaffirm Member States’ commitment to strengthening governance, accountability, and peer learning across Africa.
Leaders emphasised the need to move beyond review processes toward measurable impact, calling for the accelerated implementation of recommendations arising from peer review reports.
The Summit recorded several significant outcomes reflecting the continued strengthening of the African Peer Review Mechanism across the continent. A key moment was the formal handover of the APRM Forum Chairship from Algeria to Uganda. In assuming the chairship, Uganda demonstrated its commitment to the Mechanism by announcing a pledge of USD 1 million to support and enhance its work.
The Forum also welcomed Somalia as the 45th Member State of the APRM, marking an important step toward universal accession and broader continental participation in the governance review process.
Leaders received and considered several peer review reports, including the Second-Generation Country Review Report of the Republic of Sierra Leone. In addition, targeted review reports were presented on Corporate Governance in Ghana, Economic Governance in Zimbabwe, and the Tourism sector in São Tomé and Príncipe. These reports provided valuable insights into sector-specific governance reforms and best practices.
Furthermore, the Forum was updated on progress made in implementing National Programmes of Action arising from previous reviews. Updates were presented by Mozambique following its Second Generation Country Review Report, by Djibouti on the implementation of its Base Review Report, and by Namibia on its Targeted Review Report focusing on Youth Unemployment. These progress reports indicated the importance of translating review findings into practical, measurable reforms that advance governance and development objectives across Member States.
The discussions demonstrated the importance of ensuring that governance reforms translate into improved service delivery, economic resilience, and inclusive development for African citizens.
Accelerating AfCFTA Implementation
Minister Inkosi Buthelezi also represented President Ramaphosa at the inaugural meeting of the Committee of Heads of State and Government on the Implementation of the AfCFTA — one of the flagship projects of the AU’s Agenda 2063.
The meeting focused on accelerating the delivery of the trade agreement by shifting the continental focus from negotiation to implementation. Leaders provided high-level political guidance to ensure the AfCFTA achieves its intended objective of deepening intra-African trade and economic integration.
Member States recommitted themselves to ensuring that the AfCFTA delivers tangible economic benefits for Africa’s 1.4 billion people, reinforcing the continent’s collective ambition for sustainable growth, industrialisation, and shared prosperity.
South Africa’s participation reaffirmed its continued commitment to advancing good governance, regional integration, and the broader goals of Agenda 2063.
