The efforts of the new leadership of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to revive the legislative aspirations of the institution and provide a new sense of direction have received a major boost.
This comes after African Ministers of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Parliament within the democratic and governance architecture of the African Union (AU) during the opening day of the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Union taking place in Lusaka, Zambia.
Members of the Council have overwhelmingly welcomed back the PAP after being absent from AU high-level engagements for one year, owing to the suspension of Parliamentary activities due to differences over modalities for the election of Office-Bearers. Reflecting on the challenges that recently plagued the continental Parliament, the Executive Council has urged the new leadership to hit the ground running and ensure that the Parliament fully plays its role by amplifying the voices of the African citizens in the construction of the Africa We Want.
On 29 June 2022, the PAP conducted free, fair and credible elections of its Bureau, premised on the observance of the principle of rotational leadership as directed by an Executive Council decision of October 2021.
Hon. Senator. Chief Fortune Charumbira from Zimbabwe was elected as the new President of the PAP. Also elected to serve in the PAP Bureau, is the 1st Vice President, Hon.Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf from Mauritania; Hon. Dr Ashebiri Gayo from Ethiopia was elected as the 2nd Vice President; Hon. Lúcia Maria Mendes Gonçalves dos Passos from Cape Verde was voted as the 3rd Vice President; and Hon. Francois Ango Ndoutoume from Gabon elected as the 4th Vice President.
H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) expressed utmost satisfaction with the recent elections at the PAP, which he believes have helped restore the image of the institution following disagreements that emerged in May 2021. He described the successful elections as a sign of hope for the PAP and the entire continent.
“I had the honour and privilege of witnessing the electoral process of the new Bureau with our Parliamentarians. Together, we have succeeded in giving an improved image of our Parliament. I recognise and commend the new President who is with us today, as well as his Bureau,” said H.E Mahamat.
H.E Mrs Aissata Tall Sall, Chairperson of the Executive Council and Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs lauded the efforts made by all stakeholders to ensure that the PAP gets back on its feet and gets on with the business of representing and defending the interests of the peoples of Africa.
“We are delighted to have the PAP back amongst us given the importance of its role in achieving the integration of our continent. Ultimately, the focus should be the transformation of the Parliament into a full-fledged legislative organ in order to effectively contribute to the African agenda and mainstream the voices of our people. A strong Parliament, legislating for the continent is necessary. I am hopeful that we will soon move into that territory,” H.E Tall Sall.
H.E .Christophe Lutundula, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) told the Bureau of the PAP that continental Parliament cannot afford to fall back in the situation it found itself in one year ago, and urged Parliamentarians to hit the ground running.
“The parliamentary dimension of the work of the PAP in the AU set up is critical. The PAP has been missing in action and it’s time for it to reclaim its place. But it is important to stress that the continental Parliament now has no margin for error as we move forward.” He concluded.
The two-day Session of the Executive Council precedes the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) between the bureau of the AU Assembly and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the Chairpersons of RECs, the AU Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs).
