Abstract
This dissertation explores the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in promoting a culture of democracy and good governance
within the framework of the African Union (AU). Established in the early 2000s, these
institutions were created as responses to Africa’s ongoing governance challenges, which
include corruption, weak institutions, and limited citizen participation. The APRM, launched
in 2003 under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), serves as a voluntary
self-assessment mechanism designed to promote accountability, transparency, and policy
coordination through peer review and participatory processes. The PAP, established in 2004,
was envisioned as the AU’s parliamentary arm to institutionalise continental representation and
democratic oversight, though its mandate remains largely consultative.
The study examines their normative foundations, operational structures, and practical
contributions, highlighting achievements such as the production of governance data and
continental dialogue, alongside structural limitations including voluntarism, advisory status,
financial dependence, and sovereignty concerns. It argues that these constraints have hindered
the translation of normative ambitions into tangible reforms, perpetuating Africa’s
implementation gap. The dissertation proposes a reform agenda centred on legal empowerment,
institutional synergy, sustainable financing, and enhanced citizen engagement. Ultimately, the
study argues that the APRM and PAP, if strengthened and integrated, can transform Africa’s
governance architecture from aspirational ideals into actionable realities.