The African Group is considering a cooperation memorandum with the Arab Group
At its meeting on 14 April 2026, as part of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held from 15 to 19 April, a proposal for a memorandum of cooperation was presented by the Arab Group, with the primary aim of formalising the existing cooperation between the two groups at the level of the IPU Assemblies.
The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Chair of the African Group and Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, accompanied by Her Excellency Ms Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti, Representative of the African Group on the Executive Committee, and Mr IDI GADO Boubacar, Coordinator of the Group and Secretary General of the African Parliamentary Union (APU).
During the meeting, the Group unanimously supported the urgent motion entitled ‘The urgent need for concerted parliamentary efforts to preserve ceasefires and support peacebuilding’, initially proposed by the delegations of Qatar, Australia, Turkey, France, Brazil and Zambia, with the support of the Arab Group, which was also adopted by the IPU Assembly.
Subsequently, Her Excellency Ms Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti, in her capacity as Representative of the African Group on the IPU Executive Committee, presented the report on the activities of that body to the Group.
During a brief visit to the African Group, the IPU President, Ms Tulia Ackson, indicated that, in addition to the emergency item, the IPU was also considering the creation of a further emergency item to allow for a more in-depth discussion of current global issues.
Furthermore, the Group heard the programme proposals from the candidates for the post of IPU Secretary General, namely Ms Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou (Greece), Ms Anda Filip (Romania), Ms Fatou Dieng Thiam (Senegal) and Ms Cecilia Widegren (Sweden).
On election day, candidate Anda Filip was elected IPU Secretary General.
The African Group is a coordinating body bringing together representatives of African national groups within the IPU; its aim is to coordinate the actions and policies of its members, to support the adoption of a common position on matters submitted to the IPU, and to defend their interests.
The 152nd IPU Assembly was held under the theme ‘Cultivating hope, consolidating peace and ensuring justice for future generations’.
The 153rd IPU Assembly is scheduled for October this year in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
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