THE landscape of Canada-Africa diplomacy has entered a transformative era. On October 23, 2026, at the Senate of Canada, Souad Elmallem, ICD.D was appointed to chair the founding board alongside Elmallem is Dr. Edward Akuffo, who will step into the role of Vice-Chair.
A Unified, Non-Partisan Institutional Voice
A coalition of more than 50 African diaspora organizations spanning from coast to coast to coast officially launched a unified institution, the Pan-Canadian African Diaspora Congress (PADC).
The landmark initiative addresses a long-standing geopolitical question first raised during multi-stakeholder discussions earlier this year on February 6: who speaks on behalf of the diverse African diaspora regarding Canada-Africa relations?
Operating strictly as an institutional umbrella organization, the PADC’s structural framework is comprised of existing organizations rather than individual memberships. This design ensures that the congress acts as a consolidated, credible, and non-partisan collective platform while explicitly preserving the identity, specific mandates, and complete autonomy of each participating member group.
The newly formed congress is designed to serve as an official interlocutor and strategic bridge connecting grassroots diaspora interests with the federal government, Parliament, and various national and international partners.
A Leadership Rooted in Global Industry and Inclusive Advocacy
The governance of the PADC’s founding board was finalized through a democratic, consensus-based electoral process. The high-level launch inside the Senate chambers was made possible through key legislative and parliamentary alliances.
The foundational dialogue was facilitated by the Honourable Amina Gerba, M.B.A., C.Q., alongside formal presence and ongoing developmental support from Member of Parliament Arielle Kayabaga, P.C., M.P.
Elmallem, currently an executive partner at the capacity-building firm 6temik, brings decades of high-level industrial governance and multi-continental strategic development to the role. Her extensive career includes serving as the senior executive and Chief Country Representative for Africa at Bombardier Aerospace, where her foundational work in midwifing regional aerospace infrastructure earned her the prestigious Royal Wissam of Grand National Merit from the King of Morocco in 2013.
Elmallem’s transition into community governance and economic advocacy heavily informed her selection to lead the congress. Appointed by Quebec’s Minister of Economy to the board of Entreprendre Ici in 2018, a government-backed entity dedicated to supporting newcomers and ethnocultural diversity entrepreneurs, she was unanimously elected as its board chair in 2021.
Her long-standing record of championing diversity and economic integration, which recently culminated in receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal at the Senate for outstanding contributions to Canadian society, uniquely positioned her to bridge grassroots diaspora initiatives with institutional policy networks
Implications for Continental Partnership
The establishment of the PADC comes at a critical juncture as Canada actively re-evaluates its economic, trade, and cultural ties with the African continent. By creating a unified platform, the PADC aims to streamline policy advocacy, optimize economic development initiatives, and ensure that future bilateral agreements yield mutual socio-economic benefits for both Canada and African nations.
Following the successful Ottawa launch, founding board members confirmed that immediate operational and strategic planning sessions are underway to transition the congress from its inaugural phase into active policy engagement.
Gallery images from Souad Elmallem’s Linkedin page
