Representing H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and incumbent Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission is expected to preside over the proceedings of the opening ceremony of the Ordinary Session of the fifth Parliament on 28 June 2022.
The Chief Executive Officer and Legal Representative of the African Union will also chair the plenary session dedicated to the election of the President of the Pan-African Parliament scheduled to take place on 29 June 2022.
The exceptional measure is due to the absence of the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and is guided by Article 14 (1) of the PAP Protocol, which stipulates that the Plenary Session of the Parliament shall be presided by the Chairperson of the Union until the election of the President of the Parliament who shall thereafter preside.
As part of the delegated authority by the Chairperson of the Union, H.E. Mahamat will also oversee the swearing-in of new members of the PAP and deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony.
The resumption of parliamentary activities follows the decision of the African Union Executive Council in October 2021 and February 2022, and subsequent policy decisions and consultations, which resolved the impasse that transpired among Parliamentarians during the proceedings of the Plenary on 31 May and 01 June 2021, as the PAP was looking to elect the President and Vice-Presidents of its Bureau.
Amb. Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security are expected to attend the upcoming election of the PAP Bureau Members. The electoral process will be conducted and managed by the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union.
