Policy brief on the Future of Pan-Africanism

The SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies (CPAS) and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) at Addis Ababa University have released a new special edition of the Pan-African Policy Brief Series.

Bringing together six African scholars, the publication reflects on how Pan-Africanism must evolve to address today’s complex political, economic, and social realities.

At the heart of the brief is a shared concern that Pan-Africanism, despite its institutional evolution, remains confined by state-centric frameworks that struggle to deliver on their promises. Continental institutions continue to prioritise sovereignty and regime stability over democratic accountability and public welfare. Formal declarations of unity and integration, the authors argue, are frequently undermined by fragmented implementation and competing national agendas.

Against this backdrop, the contributors call for a fundamental reorientation. They advocate for a Pan-Africanism anchored in citizen agency, participatory governance, and regional solidarity. This requires more than institutional redesign—it demands a shift in political imagination. Future cooperation must be built not just on the preservation of state power, but on shared commitments to equity, inclusion, and justice.

The series moves beyond critique to outline a forward-looking vision. It invites policymakers, scholars, and civil society actors to reimagine Pan-Africanism as a dynamic and democratic project—one capable of responding to contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in its emancipatory foundations.

Introduction

Pan-African Policy Pathway: Collective Policy Approaches to Common Challenges