Gaborone, June 9, 2026 – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary, H.E. Elias M. Magosi, has joined continental leaders in preparatory talks for the 8th African Union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, set to take place from June 24–27 in El-Alamein, Egypt.

Magosi participated virtually in the AU Coordination Committee Meeting, which brought together Chief Executives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

The session, chaired by AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reviewed draft work programmes and priority areas to be tabled at the AU Summit in Egypt.

During the engagement, the RECs, RMs, AUDA-NEPAD, and the AfCFTA Secretariat collectively expressed their appreciation to the Chairperson for his engagement, strategic coordination, and leadership in advancing Africa’s continental priorities.

Delegates emphasised the importance of reinforcing alignment and cooperation across continental and regional institutions to accelerate integration and improve development outcomes.

The Committee reviewed the draft work programme and received briefings on key priority areas.

These included

• The implementation of the division of labour framework between the AU, RECs, RMs and Member States;
• Progress on continental integration; and
• The Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms (I-RECKE), aimed at strengthening conflict prevention efforts.

Updates were also provided on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional operational readiness, and initiatives in water, sanitation, and infrastructure development, critical enablers of effective regional integration.

Furthermore, the committee considered the evolving role of the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in driving integration across the continent, alongside progress achieved under the AfCFTA framework.

The Committee also covered preparatory arrangements for the upcoming Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing Africa’s integration agenda through enhanced collaboration, coherence, and coordinated action.

What is the AU Coordination Committee?

The AU Coordination Committee has been instrumental in advancing Africa’s integration agenda by aligning the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), AUDA-NEPAD, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Its current Chairperson is H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, and the Committee is currently engaged in preparations for the 8th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in El-Alamein, Egypt (24–27 June 2026), focusing on the division of labour, AfCFTA implementation, infrastructure, and conflict prevention.

Achievements of the AU Coordination Committee

• Institutional Alignment: Established frameworks for division of labour between the AU, RECs, RMs, and Member States to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.
• Continental Integration: Advanced coordination on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ensuring operational readiness and harmonization of trade rules.
• Conflict Prevention: Developed the Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms (I-RECKE) to strengthen preventive diplomacy.
• Infrastructure & Development: Supported initiatives in water, sanitation, and infrastructure as enablers of regional integration.
• Policy Coherence: Reinforced collaboration between AUDA-NEPAD and AfCFTA to drive economic transformation and integration.
• Agenda 2063 Alignment: Ensured that regional and continental programmes are streamlined under Africa’s long-term development blueprint.

Quick Snapshot

The AU Coordination Committee has delivered institutional reforms, trade integration progress, and conflict prevention mechanisms. Under Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, it is now focused on ensuring the success of the upcoming 8th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Egypt, which will set the tone for Africa’s integration agenda in 2026.