The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the United African Royal Assembly (UARA) recently signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement. The initiative seeks to formalise the partnership between the UARA representing the Royal Kingdoms and traditional leaders in Africa with the PAP to strengthen traditional leadership and governance systems on the African continent and to support efforts to unite, integrate, liberate and sustainably develop Africa and its people.
The signing of the MoU between the PAP and the UARA signified a historic collaboration aimed at fostering mutual programs, sharing views, and seeking a common direction and purpose for the benefit of the African continent and its citizens. This landmark agreement is expected to fortify governance systems on the continent by combining the democratic institution of parliament, composed of elected representatives with the embedded traditional leadership and kingdoms.
The UARA was established in 2018, with over 300 kings, queens, sultans, emirs, chiefs, royal and traditional leaders from across the continent. The UARA represents and continues the Legacy of the Great African Royal Empires, Kingdoms and Chiefdoms to Promote Unity in Africa, restore the dignity, cultural identity and heritage of Africans, promote peace and security, drive inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and protection of the rich African biodiversity and natural environment.
“We welcome this move and we are pleased with this initiative as it will strengthen governance systems across the continent,” said H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira.
“It is our duty as leaders to make people understand how kingdoms and democracy functioned before. The colonisers exterminated all our systems of governance and imposed their own democracy on us. We must let Africans know that chieftaincies’ and kingdoms are legitimate and should not shy away from them. We believe that the aims of this initiative are very spot on; we need to give everything a chance for us to build a better Africa.”
H.E Chief Charumbira also highlighted the need to fortify the traditional leadership in Africa, which he regarded as democratic institutions based on the endorsement and acceptance of the people represented by those kingdoms.
He criticised the colonial administration for wrongly portraying traditional leadership and asserted, “some of us are very clear that traditional institutions, royalty is in fact democratic institutions to the extent that the people within those kingdoms fully endorse that leadership and accept it as legitimate because what democracy does is to ensure that leaders are legitimate.”
UARA Executive Secretary Dr. Liaqat Alli Azam, speaking on behalf of His Imperial Highness (HIH), Prince Estifanos Matewos, the President of the United African Royal Assembly, expressed his gratitude for this strategic partnership with the PAP. He stated that restoring the royal kingdoms in Africa is an important milestone in the decolonization of Africa as the African kingdoms and traditional leaders were leading the continent for centuries and millennia and are the custodians and guardians of the African culture, identity, sovereignty and their land before the advent of colonisation. He emphasised the importance of unity, this partnership and effective leadership in restoring the light of Africa and intensifying the efforts to achieve the vision of the African Union and the Organisation of African Union.
HIH Prince Estifanos Matewos said that, “due to the leadership and efforts of my great grandfather, HIH Emperor Menelik II, Ethiopia has never been colonised. Italy attempted to divide the people and cause internal wars. HIH Emperor Menelik II united the people and defeated the Italians in the Great Battle of Adwa in 1896. This was a landmark battle where Africans were victorious and the colonial powers were defeated. To annihilate Neo Colonialism, I have dedicated my life to unite and bring together all people of Africa, to work together to empower the Kingdoms and to improve the lives of our people,” he added.
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