Midrand, South Africa – The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) officially swore in 20 new Members of Parliament (MPs) today at the start of its Plenary Session. This important event is taking place under the African Union’s (AU) 2024 theme, *“Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”*
The newly sworn-in MPs include two representatives from Cameroon, one from Madagascar, five from South Africa, one from Nigeria, and five from the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. All new members have successfully completed the verification process by the PAP’s Committee on Rules, Discipline, and Privileges to ensure they meet the required standards set by their national parliaments.
In a notable moment, Hon. Penny Madojina, South Africa’s Minister of Water & Sanitation, highlighted that the five new South African MPs represent the Government of National Unity, reflecting the diverse political landscape of the country.
PAP’s Role in African Governance
In his opening address, the PAP President reaffirmed the institution’s critical role within the broader AU governance structure. He emphasized that PAP, often misunderstood, was created to represent the voice and interests of African citizens, ensuring that the pursuit of representative democracy, popular participation, and continental integration becomes a reality.
"The founding fathers realized that without a continental Parliament, the quest for representative democracy and integration would remain nothing more than a dream," he stated.
This session comes at a crucial time for PAP, which is intensifying its efforts to tackle pressing issues on the continent, including peace, security, and economic development, all in alignment with the AU’s Agenda 2063. The President also called for increased efforts to ratify key legal instruments like the Malabo Protocol and the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons.
Committees to Tackle Key Challenges
The swearing-in marks the start of a series of committee meetings that will address major challenges affecting the African continent. Central to the discussions will be Africa’s education systems, security concerns, and strategies for sustainable development.
Education is a top priority, given the AU’s 2024 focus on creating inclusive and quality learning environments. Other topics of focus include climate change, energy security, and the importance of peace for achieving the goals set out in Agenda 2063.
The President concluded by urging all members to approach the session’s deliberations with unity and shared purpose to overcome the many challenges Africa faces.
The Sitting will continue in the coming days with additional committee meetings aimed at discussing concrete solutions for Africa’s most pressing issues.
