Johannesburg, South Africa – 6 April 2025 – The 111th meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Panel of Eminent Persons convened to advance the APRM’s central role in promoting good governance, democracy, and sustainable development in Africa.
Key topics on the agenda included the adoption of the 2025 workplan, which highlights critical country reviews and targeted assessments, as well as preparations for upcoming high-level events. These include the fourth Joint Retreat between the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council and the APRM, the third retreat between the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons and the AU Panel of the Wise, and the third Africa High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development.
Strengthening the APRM’s Mandate
Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, CEO of the APRM Continental Secretariat, highlighted the APRM’s ongoing organizational reforms aimed at increasing efficiency and responsiveness to the continent’s evolving governance needs. She emphasized that these efforts align with the Mechanism’s strategic plan, which is now entering its implementation phase after the recent finalization of the 2025 workplan. These reforms include the reorganization of staff and the review of the organizational structure to ensure that the APRM is equipped to meet the growing demands of its member states.
Ambassador Rose-Quatre also announced plans for missions to Somalia, Cabo Verde, and the Sahrawi Arab Republic as part of efforts to achieve universal accession to the APRM, reinforcing the Mechanism's continental reach. She also underscored the APRM’s ongoing engagement to revitalize the APRM’s process in countries such as Liberia, Algeria, and Ethiopia to address specific governance challenges.
In terms of resource mobilization, the CEO acknowledged significant contributions from partners such as the African Development Bank, Afreximbank, GIZ, and the Open Society Foundation. She also expressed gratitude for Algeria’s generous financial support, which will directly contribute to the successful implementation of the APRM’s mandate.
A Call for Continued Integrity and Innovation
H.E. Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Chairperson of the APR Committee of Focal Points, reiterated the need for the APRM to remain not only a mechanism for assessment but a cornerstone for reform, dialogue, and progress across the continent. She called on the APR Panel of Eminent Persons to continue upholding the integrity of the APRM, ensuring that its reviews are a credible and transformative force for African governance.
In her statement, Ambassador Mansouri emphasized the importance of the APRM’s adaptability and flexibility in responding to emerging governance issues, such as the recurrence of political instability and economic challenges. She also highlighted the critical role of digital innovation in enhancing the review process and underscored the need to incorporate political sensitivities into the preparation of reviews.
A Collaborative Effort for Africa’s Future
During the meeting, Ambassador Ali Ahmed Araita, Vice-Chairperson of the APR Panel, insisted on the importance of knowledge-sharing and collaboration in addressing Africa’s governance challenges. He noted the significant geopolitical shifts impacting the continent and affirmed the Panel’s responsibility to contribute its expertise and social capital toward finding solutions.
Ambassador Araita also touched on the APR Panel’s critical role in producing the Africa Governance Report, based on consultations with APRM member states. He shared updates on the planned second-generation country reviews in Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside targeted reviews in Egypt, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and São Tomé and Príncipe, covering public administration reforms, youth empowerment, economic governance, and tourism development, respectively. Additionally, the launch of reports on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Comoros, Chad, and Guinea will take place in the coming months.
About the Meeting
The 111th meeting of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons was convened following the last APR Panel meeting, held in Addis Ababa in February 2025, on the margins of the 34th Summit of the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government. It was attended in person by four Panel members, while the other two participated virtually.
