Pan-African Parliament President urges transition from resource-rich to institutionally strong Africa

At the conclusion of the African Political Parties Summit in Addis Ababa, Pan-African Parliament President Fateh Boutoubiq called for a strategic shift in Africa, moving away from raw material dependency toward value-added production, innovation, and regional integration. Boutoubiq emphasized that rapidly changing global dynamics require Africa to actively shape its future by investing in its human capital, particularly youth and women. He identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a key tool for achieving the 2063 Agenda goals, while stressing that peace and security are prerequisites for development. Furthermore, he urged political parties to evolve from simple electoral competition toward leading economic transformation, promising parliamentary support through legislative cooperation and diplomacy.