One of the key objectives of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is to promote peace, security and stability on the continent. In doing so, the Continental Parliament is tasked with facilitating the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African Union (AU) throughout the continent.
During the ongoing official visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the high-level PAP delegation led by H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira visited AU mechanisms established to address issues of security and peace. The delegation sought to understand the missions, assess the effectiveness of the work and explore synergies with AU Algiers-based entities.
Firstly, the PAP delegation visited the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL). It’s an independent mechanism and a key stakeholder in the area of international police cooperation and in the fight against transnational organized crime.
African Parliamentarians present in Algiers, in line with their oversight role, probed the Management of the Mechanism on the progress made and concrete steps taken to establish a framework for police cooperation at the strategic, operational and tactical levels between African Union Members State police institutions.
The PAP also sought a briefing on actions taken by AFRIPOL in the area of cybersecurity. In this regard, Members of the PAP were called upon to advocate for the ratification of the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention) as the meeting agreed that cybercrime can be an impediment to a thriving digital economy in Africa and requires continental cooperation spearheaded by AU mechanisms. AFRIPOL has been invited to take part in the upcoming Sitting of the Permanent Committees of the PAP to interact with the relevant Committee about their work and possible areas of collaboration with African Parliamentarians.
In October 2019, the PAP adopted a Draft Model Policing Law in a bid to promote good governance, human rights, justice, peace and security on the African continent. H.E. Chief Charumbira said that The Model Law provides a strong legislative framework that reflects international standards for a rights-based approach to policing.
“The legislation establishes clear principles for the mandate and structure of law enforcement agencies and we are attempting to let Africa build itself in its own peculiar way. Therefore we are seeking synergies with AFRIPOL to promote and disseminate information on this law,” said H.E. Chief Charumbira.
The second AU institution visited by the PAP delegation was the African Centre for the Study & Research on Terrorism (ACSRT). The purpose of the Centre is for it to function as a research centre of excellence in matters concerning the prevention and combating of terrorism in Africa.
The PAP delegation affirmed that ACSRT must fully play its role given the expanding threat of terrorism and violent extremism across the continent, including the influx of foreign terrorist fighters, private military companies and mercenaries, the proliferation of armed groups, as well as transnational organized crime, continue to negatively impact the peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states. A working mechanism between ACSRT and the PAP Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution was envisaged as an invitation was extended to the Centre to engage with the said Committee in March.
As a structure of the African Union Commission, the centre is to contribute to and strengthen the capacity of the African Union to deal with issues relating to the prevention and combating of terrorism in Africa with the ultimate objective of eliminating the threat posed by terrorism to peace, security, stability and development in Africa. To this end, the Centre conducts research and study into Terrorism.
Finally, the PAP delegation met with Mr Brahim Merad, Algeria's Minister of Interior, Local Authorities and National Planning. The President of the PAP expressed gratitude to the Algerian Government, through the Minister, for the facilities accorded to AU institutions based in the country. The PAP leadership also appealed for support from the Ministry to enable knowledge-sharing opportunities for relevant Committees in the area of terrorism, extremism and peace and security.
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