Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 14 February 2026 – The 35th Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum of Heads of State and Government—its highest decision-making body—was held on 13 February 2026 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, on the margins of the 39th AU Summit. The meeting brought together more than 30 delegations, including a dozen led by Heads of State and Government, reaffirming Member States’ commitment to strengthening governance and accountability across the continent.
Key outcomes included the handover of the APRM Chairpersonship from Algeria to Uganda; the accession of Somalia as the Mechanism’s 45th Member State, bringing the APRM closer to universal accession; and the peer review of three Targeted Review Reports: Ghana on corporate governance, São Tomé and Príncipe on tourism, and Zimbabwe on economic governance. The Summit underscored the importance of moving from review processes to measurable impact through effective implementation of recommendations.
Welcoming participants, H.E. Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia, described the APRM as one of Africa’s most ambitious governance initiatives and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the Mechanism. He highlighted its relevance in addressing pressing economic challenges, including liquidity constraints, and stressed that Africa’s future is digital, requiring sustained investment in skills and talent. He also called for closer collaboration with the APRM Continental Secretariat as Ethiopia prepares to undertake a Targeted Review on climate-smart agriculture, linking national priorities to continental peer learning.
In her remarks, H.E. Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, Chief Executive Officer of the APRM Continental Secretariat, described the APRM as the continent’s premier platform for collective self-assessment and peer learning. She congratulated H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Somalia’s accession and highlighted the Mechanism’s extensive activities in 2025. While noting the APRM’s strong performance and tangible results, she emphasised the need for enhanced financial and human resources to sustain its growing mandate and ensure that review recommendations translate into concrete outcomes.
H.E. Ali El Hefny, Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, highlighted the Panel’s achievements in 2025, including 15 review-related activities, and described the year as one of significant progress. Emphasising the Panel’s role in ensuring objective, evidence-based assessments, he reaffirmed the APRM’s place as a cornerstone of the AU governance architecture and stressed the importance of sustained support and systematic follow-up to maintain its vitality.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, commended H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune for his leadership as outgoing Chair of the APR Forum and thanked Member States for their active participation. He emphasised that the APRM’s continued relevance depends on adequate financial and human resource support, as well as the effective implementation of recommendations arising from country reviews, moving the Mechanism from assessment to transformative action.
Speaking on behalf of President Tebboune, H.E. Sifi Ghrieb, Prime Minister of Algeria, reiterated Algeria’s steadfast commitment to the APRM and to multilateral cooperation. He highlighted Algeria’s USD 1 million contribution to support APRM reviews and the progress in accession during its chairmanship and pledged continued support to Uganda and to the Mechanism’s long-term success.
On behalf of H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda and incoming Chairperson of the APR Forum, Vice-President H.E. Jessica Alupo emphasised the need for the APRM to move decisively from diagnosis to delivery and from process to measurable impact. She stressed that peer review must remain constructive, evidence-based, and action-oriented, with stronger collaboration among the Panel, National Governing Councils, and Member States to ensure the implementation of agreed recommendations. She concluded by pledging Uganda’s financial support of USD 1 million to reinforce the Mechanism’s work.
In his report to the Forum, the outgoing Chairperson of the APR Focal Points Committee, H.E. Sofiane Chaib, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of National Community Abroad of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, highlighted key institutional and financial developments since the 34th Ordinary Session. He presented recommendations on the APR Forum Troika and Focal Points leadership, as well as the appointment of new members and the Bureau of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons. He also underscored progress on the Country and Targeted Review missions, and the adoption of the APRM Strategic Plan 2025–2028 and other strategic documents. Noting voluntary contributions and partial settlement of arrears by Participating States, he stressed the need for sustainable funding to enable the APRM to effectively deliver on its expanded mandate.
Following the peer review of the three Targeted Review Reports and the presentation of progress reports by Mozambique, Djibouti and Namibia on the implementation of their respective review recommendations and National Plans of Action, the CEO of the APRM Continental Secretariat presented the draft Communiqué of the 35th Summit. Reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to advancing good governance and peer accountability across Africa, Vice-President Jessica Alupo commended Heads of State and Government for their participation and adjourned the Summit.
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