The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), represented by its Permanent Ambassador to the African Union, Lamine Baali, is participating in the 50th Regular Session of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the African Union. The session began on Monday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This meeting kicks off the cycle of high-level meetings leading to the 47th Regular Session of the AU Executive Board and the 7th Biennial Coordination Meeting between the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 10 to 13 July 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Vice-President Salma Malika Haddadi outlined the strategic direction of the new leadership. She underlined enhanced cooperation with Member States and regional bodies to accelerate continental integration, peace and sustainable development. “Our collective will must translate into real progress in finance, participation and justice; Africa’s future depends on it,” he said.
Key priorities for the Commission include strengthening institutional coordination, ensuring financial sustainability through the implementation of the 0.2% import tax (Kigali Decision) and advancing the AU’s 2025 theme focused on justice and reparations for Africans and people of African origin. Preparations are also underway for major international events such as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Professor Miguel Bembe, Committee Chair and Permanent Representative of Angola to the AU, stressed the Commission’s fundamental role in maintaining the Union’s political and technical coherence. “We must ensure transparency, efficiency and results in line with Agenda 2063; the Africa we want,” he said.
During the session, delegates will review several critical issues, including the AU Commission reports, the 2026 draft budget and an assessment of progress on the 2025 theme. They will also prepare draft resolutions to be presented at the Executive Board session in July.
The Sahrawi Republic continues to actively participate in all AU bodies and mechanisms, reaffirming its founding role in the Union and its steadfast commitment to African unity, sovereignty and the continent’s ongoing decolonization efforts.