—

Prince Estifanos Matewos

President, United Africa Royal Assembly

To

The Newly Elected Bureau and Bureauxes of the

Your Excellencies,

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED BUREAU AND BUREAUX OF 7TH LEGISLATURE OF THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT

I write to you with profound respect and an abiding sense of Africa’s collective responsibility, to convey my sincere congratulations on your election and elevation to office. I regard this outcome as a solemn trust bestowed upon you by the peoples of Africa, reflecting confidence in your judgement, integrity, and collective resolve to advance unity through the Parliament’s custodianship of democratic legitimacy and the broader continental vision.

In reflecting upon the present context of our continent, I am mindful that Africa continues to confront complex peace and security challenges which call for principled and coordinated responses. I hold the firm view that your leadership will be distinguished by steadiness of purpose, guided by dialogue, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to stability. In this regard, I look with confidence to the Parliament’s continued role as a forum of reasoned deliberation and consensus, upholding the enduring principle of African solutions to African problems.

I further recognise that your stewardship will, in part, be measured by its contribution to advancing Agenda 2063, our continent’s blueprint for inclusive growth, sound governance, and sustainable development. The realisation of its aspirations requires leadership that is both visionary and firmly grounded in the lived realities and rich heritage of African societies, a balance which I trust will characterise your tenure.

I wish, in particular, to reaffirm the enduring significance of traditional leadership within Africa’s institutional landscape. Across centuries, our Kings, Queens, and Chiefs have served as custodians of culture, arbiters of community life, and anchors of social cohesion, their authority derived from history, continuity, and the confidence of their communities. I recall that the imperative to harmonise indigenous systems with contemporary governance has long been recognised by Africa’s visionary statesmen, including Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. This vision found renewed expression in the continental outlook of Muammar Gaddafi, whose efforts sought to elevate traditional authorities and integrate them within the broader architecture of continental governance, both symbolically and in practice.

I further note that continental instruments such as the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance, together with deliberations within the Economic Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), continue to affirm the importance of inclusive governance. These frameworks present a clear opportunity to accord traditional institutions fuller recognition as partners in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and sustainable development.

In reaffirming the commitment of the United Africa Royal Assembly, I wish to assure Your Excellencies that we stand ready to work closely with the Bureau and Bureauxes of the Pan-African Parliament in advancing these shared objectives. I am persuaded that the establishment of enduring mechanisms bridging customary authority with legislative processes will further strengthen the foundations upon which our continental aspirations rest, including the realisation of a United States of Africa, founded upon common institutions, shared security, and economic unity. Within this vision, traditional leadership embodies cultural continuity, unity beyond colonial boundaries, and a shared African identity.

In conclusion, I extend my firm expectation that your tenure will be marked by wisdom, unity, and steadfast dedication to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, and that your leadership will contribute meaningfully to a peaceful, integrated, and self-assured Africa.

Please accept, Your Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration.

 

H.H. Prince Estifanos Matewos

President, United Africa Royal Assembly

African Union Ambassador to Member States

– ENDS-