The Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group to review and fine-tune areas of collaboration between the two institutions of the African Union (AU). The two delegations met on the sidelines of the recently concluded 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU in Lusaka, Zambia.
The collaboration between the PAP and PAPS had been put on hold following the political leadership vacuum at the Parliament. Following the recent resumption of parliamentary activities with the election of new Office-Bearers, the PAP Bureau sought to signal the continental Parliament’s readiness to reposition itself and renew its working relationship with the PAPS.
The delegations led by PAP President H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira and H.E. Amb. Bankole ADEOYE, Commissioner for PAPS resolved to task the Joint Working Group, comprised of members from both sides, to analyse the current collaborative framework and come up with concrete proposals on how to enhance the relationship.
The mandates of the PAP and PAPS are intertwined. They are both tasked by the African Union to promote peace and stability, good governance, democracy and human rights as a foundation for inclusion, security and the development of the continent and its people.
One of the key areas of collaboration over the past few years between the PAP and PAPS has been the African Union Election Observation Missions (AUEOM).
In line with an Executive Council decision taken in February 2010, the PAP and the African Union Commission, through the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, participate in joint AUEOM.
The decision provides for the PAP to contribute 40% of observers, as well as cooperation between staff from both organs in the organisation of the missions. The new PAP Bureau, therefore, requested that the Parliament be reintegrated into these missions as soon as the next elections are held in Africa in order to fully play its role, while other details are being worked out by the Joint Working Group.
During the Eleventh Extraordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 17-18 November 2018, the AU Assembly rationalised and established six (6) portfolios, among which Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) was created as a merger of two separate departments namely (i) Political Affairs and (ii) Peace and Security. The new department focuses on one of the four key priorities of the African Union, in particular, (i) political affairs, (ii) peace and security, (iii) economic integration and (iv) Africa's global representation and voice.
