The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is to embark on a soul-searching mission to be able to fully play a more meaningful role as an organ of the African Union (AU) in pursuit of development and in furtherance of Agenda 2063.
The continental Parliament is schedule to hold a ten-day long programme from August 22 to September 3rd 2022 where a very exhaustive programmed is outlined to search, research and interrogate the purpose and objectives for the establishment of the PAP and draw an implementation plan to justify its relevance in meeting the aspirations of the people of the continent.
Addressing a virtual Press Conference on Friday, August 19, 2022 from the Secretariat of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, the President of the PAP, Chief Fortune Charumbira, disclosed that, starting from Monday 22 August to the 3rd of September 2022, “it would be PAP renewal; PAP reinventing itself; PAP crafting a future that responds to the challenges of this continent; that responds to the demands and aspirations of the citizens of this continent.”
He then urged the media to pay close attention to and have keen interest in the outlined activities of the PAP aimed at transforming the fortunes of the Parliament. “For now, the Bureau has been meeting preparing for a major event which I will be inviting the media in all its various forms to take a keen interest,” he said.
The programme will kick start with a self-assessment and mission-finding workshop for all 275 members of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand South Africa beginning from Monday, August 22 to Wednesday, August 24. This will then be followed by Committee sittings till September 2 to consider specific issues springing out from the workshop.
According to the President of the Continental Parliament, the whole aim of the workshop is geared towards understanding the whole purpose of establishing the PAP and what structures exists to enable it perform its duties adequately. Various experts and senior leaders on the continent and even beyond are scheduled to support the process.
“The purpose of the 3-day workshop will be to re-look; re-orient; re-invigorate; re-energize, and re-invent the Pan-African Parliament. And to do that, we will have a number of activities. The first is to look at what is it that the Parliament was created to deliver. We want to go back to the basics of the Abuja treaty of 1991; … a lot of things happened in justifying the creation of a Parliament as one of the organs of the then OAU which was only established when the name moved to the African Union (AU).
“Beyond that, that will lead us to aligning ourselves to the 2063 agenda. How does PAP contribute to the AU’s 2063 Agenda? By of course collaborating very well, meaningfully with other structures within the AU family. As a result, we have invited almost every unit commissions of the AU so that the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, also connects with our vision; connects with the vision of the AU. The Commissioner for Agriculture, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, and all of the them will come to PAP and then we can agree on how we can harmonize operations and the programmes.
“As part of these 3-day programme, we would also look at the issue of rules. Whether our rules of procedure of PAP actually supports or creates a conducive environment for a honourable Pan-African Parliament which is composed of Honourable members. What are the gaps in our rules of operation? We would also look at the rules on the conduct of our Honourable members during our sessions. What decorum is supposed of honourable Members. And if any rules would be amended, that would be informed by the discussions of this meeting.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1660943418 [post_date] => August 19, 2022 [post_modified] => August 19, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-to-engage-in-soul-searching-mission-to-assist-au-deliver-on-mandate-chief-charumbira/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1466] => Array ( [post_id] => 1466 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1467 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-permanent-committees-to-gather-for-august-sittings/ [post_title] => PAP Permanent Committees to gather for August Sittings [post_title_attribute] => PAP Permanent Committees to gather for August Sittings [post_excerpt] => [post_content] =>The August Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) are scheduled to be held from 22 August to 02 September 2022 at the seat of the continental Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
The Sittings will be guided by the African Union theme of 2022; ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development’.
Among others, the PAP committees will work on various issues including a dedicated workshop on the AU theme of 2022; an update on the peace and security situation on the continent; model law on Food Security and Nutrition; Covid-19 Crisis and economic and social recovery strategies in Africa; status of implementation of the AfCFTA; model law on Gender Parity; and implementation status of the African Union Ten-Year Action Plan to eradicate Child Labour and Human Trafficking.
“The August Sittings will also feature the Speaker’s Conference where the leadership of Africa’s national and regional legislatures will concert on AU decisions and policies as well as evaluate the state of the ratification of the PAP Protocol and ways to speed up this process,” says the H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the PAP.
H.E. Charumbira says that committees are the engine house of the Parliament as they ensure in-depth analysis on topical and emerging issues facing Africa. “The Committees enable Parliament to perform its core oversight, advisory and consultative functions. Further, such an arrangement allows the PAP to perform several functions simultaneously and provide required detailed investigation on matters of concern.”
The upcoming sittings constitute the first statutory assignment of the parliament since the elective ordinary session in June 2022, which signaled the resumption of parliamentary activities. The August sittings will be preceded by a strategic reorientation workshop for members of the Pan-African Parliament on 22-23 August aimed at “Reviving, Renewing, Repositioning and Reinvigorating the Pan-African Parliament.”
The workshop will serve as a catalyst to the PAP’s commitment to reposition itself within the AU architecture, through an in-depth analysis of its mandate and how it can effectively contribute to achieving the objectives of the Union.
Source: Jeffrey Onganga||Pan-African Parliament
[post_date_unix] => 1660769053 [post_date] => August 17, 2022 [post_modified] => August 17, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-permanent-committees-to-gather-for-august-sittings/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1447] => Array ( [post_id] => 1447 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1448 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-joins-efforts-to-promote-lasting-peace-in-africa/ [post_title] => PAP joins efforts to promote lasting peace in Africa [post_title_attribute] => PAP joins efforts to promote lasting peace in Africa [post_excerpt] => [post_content] =>The Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) participated in the pre-launch event of the inter-regional knowledge exchange (I-RECKE) on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention, held ahead of the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) in Lusaka, Zambia.
I-RECKE is an institutional community of practice for intra-continental and cross-regional learning to build peace. It is a Pan-African mechanism for developing, capturing and documenting knowledge and also sharing lessons learned, and experiences on governance and conflict prevention on the continent.
Led by the African Union Commission for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), I-RECKE has been described as a critical area of cooperation between the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in promoting peace and security on the continent.
The pre-launch was conducted in the presence of representatives from the eight RECs and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) on the African continent, given their central role in ensuring the implementation of preventive measures to maintain peace and security in the region.
Speaking at the pre-launch event, the President of the Pan-African Parliament H.E. Chief Fortune also Charumbira pledged full support for the initiative given its relevance with a core function of the Continental Parliament, which is to promote peace, security and stability.
“Our Permanent Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution consider policy issues on international cooperation and international relations on behalf of the Parliament and AU. It also deals with conventions and protocols linking Parliament with regional and international institutions. The Committee examines revisions of AU protocols and treaties and provides assistance to Parliament in its conflict prevention and resolution efforts. Permanent Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution,” said the PAP President.
H.E Chief Charumbira further called on the RECs to work closely with the PAP given the intertwinement of the mandates of their issues of peace and security.
“The PAP and the RECs are one. In fact, the PAP is called upon, as part of its functions, to promote the coordination of the RECs’ policies, measures, programmes and activities. We are also tasked with consolidating democratic institutions and culture, good governance transparency and the rule of law by all AU organs, including RECs and the Member States. Our cooperation is critical for the advancement of African integration. “ said H.E Charumbira.
The pre-launch of the platform was expected to be followed by the official launch during the meeting for the Heads of State.
Source: PAP
[post_date_unix] => 1658098899 [post_date] => July 17, 2022 [post_modified] => July 17, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-joins-efforts-to-promote-lasting-peace-in-africa/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1440] => Array ( [post_id] => 1440 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1441 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/au-executive-council-celebrates-the-pan-african-parliament/ [post_title] => AU Executive Council celebrates the Pan-African Parliament [post_title_attribute] => AU Executive Council celebrates the Pan-African Parliament [post_excerpt] => The Conference Hall of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, where the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union was being held, was in a celebratory and joyful mood when the report on the implementation of the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1128(XXXIX) on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was presented. [post_content] =>The Conference Hall of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, where the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union was being held, was in a celebratory and joyful mood when the report on the implementation of the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1128(XXXIX) on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was presented. The new Bureau of the legislative organ of the Union was formally and officially unveiled to African Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
The Executive Council described the recent elections of the Bureau of the PAP, and the subsequent resumption of Parliamentary activities as a triumph of African unity and Pan-Africanism. In what was a moment of celebration following the stalemate that caused uncertainty at the PAP, the Council welcomed the sense of responsibility and the spirit of compromise of Parliamentarians that prevailed during the elections, which saw the application of African Union values, rules, and regulations, including the principle of geographical rotation of the Bureau.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs congratulated the newly elected leadership and all members of the PAP for acting in a manner that has redeemed the image of the Parliament as well as the image of the Union. A sharp contrast to the unfortunate incidents of May and June 2021 that led to the suspension of the activities of Parliament. The report, which hailed all the efforts deployed by all structures of the Union to restore calm and harmony at the PAP, was unanimously adopted.
Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, Saharawi Republic, Libya, Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cape Verde are some of the Member States who took turns to express the significance of the PAP as a continental Parliament and the extreme satisfaction with the outcome of the interventions by the AU to ensure a peaceful resolution to challenges faced by the Parliament in May 2021.
They called it a “moment of celebration for the continent”. According to the Executive Council, the ideals embodied by a continental Parliament and how these ideals contribute to a more integrated Africa, demand that all efforts be made to preserve the PAP.
The Executive Council was therefore adamant that it is time to focus on solutions that will make the Parliament more effective in delivering its mandate. These efforts must be deployed with the same resolve and urgency that delivered a new leadership at the PAP, following the impasse. As the first order of business, the Council unanimously and consensually agreed to the appeal made earlier by the new President of the PAP for more resources to be allocated to the Parliament.
On the opening day of the Ordinary Session, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira passionately and pertinently requested additional financial and logistical resources to enable the Bureau to effectively carry out its mandate for the 2022 operational year; and a review of the 2023 draft Operational Budget to allow the PAP to perform its functions effectively for the 2023 operational year.
A visibly humbled President of the PAP also intervened after the presentation of the report on the implementation of the Executive Council Decision of October 2021.
He expressed gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive response received by the Bureau and the PAP at large during the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. He showed the deepest appreciation for the manner in which the AU leadership including the Assembly, Executive Council and African Union Commission mobilised and provided guidance when the PAP needed it the most. The President of the PAP also expressed gratitude to South Africa as host country to the PAP for providing the usual logistical support and facilities for the successful conduct of the elections.
“As the Pan-African Parliament, we are humbled and proud of the way the AU as a whole has mobilised and rallied behind the PAP. I am accompanied to this meeting by other members of the Bureau to showcase the unity that has returned at the PAP. We are also here to reaffirm that the PAP is back to full functionality and is ready to carry on with its mandate of ensuring the full participation of the African peoples in the development and economic integration of our continent and advancing Agenda2063.
He added: “As the Bureau, our principal objective going forward will be to repair the image of the Parliament, and indeed the AU, whose image was also tarnished last year. We are now embarking on the process of restoring the confidence of the peoples of Africa in the PAP.”
H.E Mrs Aissata Tall Sall, Chairperson of the Executive Council and Senegalese Minister of Foreign said that the case of the PAP is a clear illustration of how African problems can find African solutions.
“Now the onus is on us to finish what we started by empowering the PAP. Even as we await the ratification of the Protocol giving it full legislative powers, the continental Parliament remains an important tool to keep all of us in check. Let’s work even harder to enhance the PAP’s oversight role given its mandate to defend and represent the interests of our citizens. We demand that the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) works with relevant Sub-Committees to provide the PAP with the necessary resources as requested,” said H.E Tall.
H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of AUC, who led from the front and successfully presided over a delicate election Session of Parliament last month, commended Parliamentarians for showing wisdom and putting Africa first. He echoed the sentiment that the PAP needs to be enabled to enter the next phase of its evolution.
“The key objective of the ongoing institutional reforms of the Union is to bring the AU closer to the citizens. We have come to the conclusion that a Parliament remains the only viable mechanism to achieve this rapprochement and carry the aspirations of the people. Now more than even ever, the ratification of the Malabo Protocol becomes an imperative. We also need to encourage AU organs and different institutions to subject themselves to regular engagements with the PAP, where plans and policies are presented to the representatives of our people. This exercise does not have to wait for the Malabo Protocol to be in place as we are still accountable to the citizens of Africa for the decisions that we take as a continental body.” Concluded H.E Faki.
Finally, the Executive Council of the African Union further resolved, among other things, to:
* Commend the leadership and personal involvement of H.E. Macky SALL in resolving the crisis in the PAP which has resulted in the successful organisation of the elections on 29th June 2022;
* Appreciate the leadership of H.E. Cyril RAMAPHOSA for having ensured the proper conduct of the elections held in Midrand, South Africa at the Headquarters of the Pan-African Parliament;
* Commend the Chairperson of the Commission for the participation and the leadership demonstrated during the election proceeding of the PAP Bureau.
* Recall its decisions EX.CL/Dec.979(XXXI), EX.CL/Dec.1018(XXXII) and EX.CL/Dec.1128(XXXIX) that reiterated the application of the African Union values, rules, and regulations in managing all activities of the organ, including the principle of geographical rotation of the Bureau including that of the Presidency of the Pan African Parliament and direct the Pan-African Parliament to apply the rotation formula outlined in the election Modalities for Election of Bureau Members of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament in all future elections of the Bureau;
* Direct the Office of the Legal Counsel in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pan-African Parliament to urgently review the Rules of Procedure of the Organ to ensure alignment with African Union values, rules, and regulations as well as established practices of the Union including the principle of geographical rotation;
* Encourage the Members States that have not yet done so to ratify the revised Malabo Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan- African Parliament of 2014.
* Further recalls its decision EX.CL/Dec.1028(XXXII) that directed the PRC to hold a retreat with the PAP to address all the concerns that affect the delivery and operations of the Organ, therefore the need to urgently convene the said retreat and report back to its next Ordinary Session in 2023.
The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) has extended its congratulatory message to the Pan-African Parliament for a successful election for the Sixth Parliament recently held in Midrand, South Africa.
"The APPN congratulates His Excellency Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, on his election as the fifth PAP President, and his Vice-Presidents, Hon. Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf from Mauritania, Hon. Dr. Gayo Ashebir from Ethiopia, Hon. Lucia Martia Memndes Goncalves dos Passos from Cape Verde, and Hon. Ango Ndoutoune from Gabon," a press release co-signed by the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Olu Ibekwe and the Coordinator of the Network, Gilbert Borketey Boyefio, read.
The Network further associated itself with the call by Chief Fortune Charumbira for the PAP to “Put our African people forward and do away with unnecessary conflicts. Together we can achieve more, we will only develop our continent when united and this is an essential thing for our people to see and experience in our lifetime”.
The peaceful atmosphere and well-coordinated manner the just ended Ordinary Session was organized reflects the efforts and progress made by numerous stakeholders spearheaded by the African Union Commission.
The elections follow a stalemate that saw the legislative arm of the African Union failing to choose its leaders owing to differences on modalities of handling the election last year.
The deadlock was resolved by an Executive Council decision in October 2021, which reiterated the adoption of the principle of rotation when electing the leadership of the institution. The decision also charged the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Union to prepare modalities and conduct the elections of the new Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament.
The much-awaited election was presided over by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer and Legal Representative of the African Union, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, who represented H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and incumbent Chairperson of the African Union, who was meant to supervise the Session on an exceptional measure guided by Article 14 (1) of the PAP Protocol.
The said Article stipulates that the Plenary Session of the Parliament shall be presided by the Chairperson of the Union on the absence of the Bureau of PAP until the election of the President of the Parliament who shall thereafter preside over entire processes of the institution.
The release also reinforced the commitment of the continental parliamentary media body to support the cause of the Pan African Parliament.
"The APPN reiterates its commitment to work closely with the PAP to increase its visibility and spread the good work they are doing for all African citizens."
Source: parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1657133868 [post_date] => July 6, 2022 [post_modified] => July 6, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/appn-congratulates-pap-on-successful-bureau-election/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1443] => Array ( [post_id] => 1443 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1444 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/new-leadership-of-pan-african-parliament-elected/ [post_title] => New Leadership of Pan-African Parliament Elected [post_title_attribute] => New Leadership of Pan-African Parliament Elected [post_excerpt] => Hon. Senator. Chief Fortune Charumbira from Zimbabwe has been overwhelmingly elected as the new leader of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the currently underway Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament held in Midrand, South Africa. [post_content] =>lHon. Senator. Chief Fortune Charumbira from Zimbabwe has been overwhelmingly elected as the new leader of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the currently underway Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament held in Midrand, South Africa.
“I want us to come together; we need to immediately fight and destroy the divisions caused by these foreign languages in Africa imposed on us by outside continents and resulted in us identifying one another as Anglophones, Francophones and Lusophones,” said Hon. Charumbira soon after his election victory, pledging to unite and develop the PAP.
Hon. Charumbira who was nominated to contest for Presidency of the PAP Bureau by his Southern Africa Caucus received 161 votes out of 203 votes cast with 31 members abstaining from voting while 11 spoilt papers were recorded.
“I am a President for everyone regardless of how you voted, it is high time we put our African people forward and do away with unnecessary conflicts. Together we can achieve more, we will only develop our continent when united and this is an essential thing for our people to see and experience in our lifetime,” added Hon. Charumbira.
Hon. Chief Charumbirais a traditional leader in Zimbabwe and the current President of the Chief's Council. He was inaugurated as the substantive Chief on 24 May 2000. In 2013, he was retained as President of the Chief’s Council in elections conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in Harare. He served as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in 2000.
He holds Masters in Business Administration (MBA) as well as Bachelor in Administration Law and Labor Law. He is a specialist in Institutional Change and Performance Improvement.
Also elected to serve in the PAP Bureau, is the 1st Vice President, Hon.Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf (Mrs.) Laghdaf from Mauritania who got 137 votes with 43 abstaining and 4 spoilt papers recorded. Hon. Dr Ashebiri Gayo from Ethiopia was elected as the 2nd Vice President with 150 votes, 36 people abstained from voting while 11 spoilt papers were recorded. Hon. Lúcia Maria Mendes Gonçalves dos Passos (Mrs) from Cape Verde was voted as the 3rd Vice President after polling 102 votes with 2 spoilt papers. Hon. Francois Ango Ndoutoume from Gabon also made it to the Bureau as the 4th Vice President after garnering 138 votes with 51 abstaining while 8 spoilt papers were recorded.
The elections come following a stalemate that saw the legislative arm of the African Union failing to choose its leaders owing to differences on modalities of handling the election last year.
The deadlock was resolved by an Executive Council decision in October 2021, which reiterated the adoption of the principle of rotation when electing the leadership of the institution. The decision also charged the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Union to prepare modalities and conduct the elections of the new Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament.
The much-awaited elections were presided over by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer and Legal Representative of the African Union, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat. H.E Mahamat was representing H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and incumbent Chairperson of the African Union, who was meant to supervise the Session on an exceptional measure 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 on the absence of the Bureau of PAP until the election of the President of the Parliament who shall thereafter preside over entire processes of the institution.
Source: PAP
[post_date_unix] => 1656617340 [post_date] => June 30, 2022 [post_modified] => July 17, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/new-leadership-of-pan-african-parliament-elected/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1359] => Array ( [post_id] => 1359 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1360 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/new-bureau-of-the-pap-to-be-elected-as-parliamentary-activities-resume-from-june-27/ [post_title] => New Bureau of the PAP to be Elected as Parliamentary Activities Resume from June 27 [post_title_attribute] => New Bureau of the PAP to be Elected as Parliamentary Activities Resume from June 27 [post_excerpt] => [post_content] =>A New Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament is set to be elected later this month as the continental Legislative body prepares to resume normal Parliamentary activities after a troubled session last June.
This follows the intervention of the African Union in resolving the impasse which marred the elections of a new Bureau of the PAP held in Midrand, South Africa from May to June last year.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the legislative arm of the African Union (AU), is scheduled to hold an ordinary session from 27 June to 02 July 2022 at the Parliament’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.
The main business on the agenda of the upcoming Session is the election of the new Bureau of the PAP, slated for 29 June 2022. The leadership of other structures of Parliament, including Permanent Committees and regional and thematic caucuses, will also be renewed during the Session.
The PAP is headed by a Bureau which consists of a President and 4 Vice-Presidents. The members of the Bureau represent the five regions of the continent. The Bureau is responsible for the management and administration of the affairs and facilities of Parliament and its organs among other responsibilities.
The Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security are expected to attend the upcoming election of the PAP Bureau Members, with the electoral process to be conducted and managed by the Office of the Legal Counsel.
Furthermore, Permanent Committees are expected to finalise and adopt workplans in line with the AU theme for 2022: ’’Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development.”
The resumption of parliamentary activities follows the Executive Council Decision (EX.CL/Dec.1294(XXXIX)) 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.
Proceedings were suspended three times during the proceedings when delegates clashed over the election process of a new president. The contention was whether the presidency should move around in the different blocs of the continent on a rotational basis or not.
Several Parliamentarians from different countries will be sworn in as members of the PAP following elections in a number of African States and rotation within delegations.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com with additional files from the Pan-African Parliament
[post_date_unix] => 1655298592 [post_date] => June 15, 2022 [post_modified] => June 15, 2022 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/new-bureau-of-the-pap-to-be-elected-as-parliamentary-activities-resume-from-june-27/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1199] => Array ( [post_id] => 1199 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1200 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/appn-commends-au-and-its-related-policy-organs-for-settling-pap-election-impasse/ [post_title] => APPN Commends AU and its Related Policy Organs for Settling PAP Election Impasse [post_title_attribute] => APPN Commends AU and its Related Policy Organs for Settling PAP Election Impasse [post_excerpt] => [post_content] =>The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) has commended the African Union (AU) and its other policy organs for their complementary roles in resolving the impasse which marred the May 2021 election Session of the Pan- African Parliament (PAP) which ended in a deadlock.
The message of commendation was contained in a press release issued on Monday, December 13, 2021 and jointly signed by the Chairperson of the APPN Steering Committee, Oluchukkwu Ibekwe and the Programme Coordinator of APPN, Gilbert Borketey Boyefio.
“The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) commends the intervention of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat and the other policy organs of the AU in working assiduously and harmoniously to ensure that the misunderstanding that led to the disruption of proceedings at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) were resolved in line with the established African Union values, rules, and regulations,” the release said.
Disagreements among Members of the Pan African Parliament from some regional blocs on the continent over the application of the principle of rotation in the election of the president of PAP, ended up in chaos.
This led to a suspension of the elections and brought an abrupt end to the proceedings of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament until the intervention of the African Union.
The intervention culminated in the decision of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where it has been directed that only regions which have not had the opportunity to lead the continental Parliament would be eligible to present candidates when the bureau elections resumes.
The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) which is a Network of African journalists and information officers reporting from regional, sub-regional and national Parliaments in Africa, urged the Parliamentarians to accept the resolution of the Executive Council and focus on the bread and butter issues and development that promote a united Africa.
The release by the group also called on “all national Parliaments that are yet to ratify the Malabo Protocol to do so to give the Pan-African Parliament the needed legislative powers.”
Below is the full release by the APPN
Statement by the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) on resolution of issues that led to the suspension of PAP election session.
The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) commends the intervention of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat and the other policy organs of the AU in working assiduously and harmoniously to ensure that the misunderstanding that led to disruption of proceedings at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) were resolved in line with the established African Union values, rules, and regulations.
APPN recalls that the May election Session of PAP ended in chaos and/ or disorder, due to disagreement among some regions on the application of the principle of rotation in the election of the Parliament’s president.
APPN commends the AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat for setting up the fact-finding delegation that visited the PAP Secretariat and submitted a progress report with far-reaching recommendations. The report of the delegation formed the basis for the decisions and recommendations of the policy organs.
The various interventions culminated in the decision of 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that only regions that have not had the opportunity to lead the Parliament would be eligible to present candidates at the resumed bureau election to be conducted and managed by the Office of Legal Counsel.
APPN urges the Parliamentarians to accept the resolution of the issue in good faith and henceforth focus on issues that promote a united Africa instead of dwelling on issues that tended to divide us. These include the manufacturing of COVID-19 Vaccines and related drugs in Africa, challenges of youth unemployment, under-development, poverty, insecurity, and promoting participatory democracy.
The APPN takes this opportunity to call on all national Parliaments that are yet to ratify the Malabo Protocol to do so to give the Pan-African Parliament the needed legislative powers.
The APPN assures the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), and the PAP of its unflinching support and collaboration in providing publicity and education for all African citizens on the Continent on the activities of PAP to make it very relevant to them.
About APPN
The African Parliamentary Press Network is a Network of African journalists and information officers reporting from regional, sub-regional and national Parliaments in Africa. APPN promotes parliamentary openness and cordial working relationship between Parliaments and the media and believes that a well mobilized and resourced press corps or galleries in all African parliaments will set the stage for the work of African Parliaments, including the Pan-African Parliament, to be made visible to the people of Africa.
Signed Hon. Oluchukkwu Ibekwe
Steering Committee Chair
African Parliamentary Press Network
+2348034077681
Hon. Gilbert Borketey Boyefio
Coordinator
APPN Secretariat
+233243915206
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1639421931 [post_date] => December 13, 2021 [post_modified] => December 13, 2021 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/appn-commends-au-and-its-related-policy-organs-for-settling-pap-election-impasse/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1192] => Array ( [post_id] => 1192 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1193 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/fouta-djallon-highlands-programme-will-not-be-affected-by-suspension-of-guinea-afc-chairman/ [post_title] => Fouta Djallon Highlands Programme Will Not be Affected by Suspension of Guinea – AFC Chairman [post_title_attribute] => Fouta Djallon Highlands Programme Will Not be Affected by Suspension of Guinea – AFC Chairman [post_excerpt] => [post_content] =>By Melvin Tejan Mansaray, Abuja-Nigeria, Saturday 4th December 2021
The Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) - Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Mohamed Nurudeen Ismaila has said that the suspension of Guinea, Conakry will not affect the implementation of the Fouta Djallon Highlands Programme.
“The overall objective of the Regional Integrated Development Programme of the Fouta Djallon Highlands is to ensure the protection and rational use of the natural resources of the Highlands and its areas of influence to contribute to sustainable development and improve the living standards of the population in the highland areas and sub-basins of member countries of the Programme. This will be achieved by reversing the trend in natural resource degradation in the sub-basins of member countries of the Programme,” the AFC reported.
Fouta Djallon is a highland region in the center of Guinea in West Africa. It consists mainly of rolling grasslands, at an average elevation of about 900 m (3,000 ft). The highest point, Mount Loura, rises to 1,515 m (4,970 ft). The plateau consists of thick sandstone formations that overlie granitic basement rock. Erosion by rain and rivers has carved deep jungle canyons and valleys into the sandstone.
In an exclusive interview with this Writer, at the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament's Second Ordinary Session of 2021 (November 29th to December 18th, 2021) just after presenting the draft 2022 Community Budget of the ECOWAS Commission on Saturday 4th December 2021 at the International Conference Center, Garki, Abuja-Nigeria, Ismaila said that the proposed 2022 UA 393.612.400 Community Budget is realistic, noting that “the budget is based on realistic figures on the initial income."
" We realized that we were not able to mobilize a hundred percent in previous years, we saw that mobilization rate was maximum eighty percent, so we revised it to eighty percent, which is very positive," Ismaila said.
On the concern of Hon. Califa Seidi’, Guinea Bissau as to how will the military takeover in Guinea, Conakry, and subsequent suspension of Guinea and Mali by the Authority of Heads of State affect the implementation of the Fouta Djallon Programme, Chairman Ismaila said the concerns expressed by a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament is in place but the suspension will not affect the implementation of the Programme.
“The suspension of Guinea from the ECOWAS will not affect the fruition or the implementation of the Fouta Djallon Programme. Guinea is only suspended from the ECOWAS and in the protocol, when you are on suspension you are so bound by all obligations of ECOWAS. The suspension is just a symbolic gesture. We also think that eventually, they will come back. They are not going to be suspended forever. Why should we suspend Programmes because of the suspension of a Member State? Besides, the Programme is not only for Guinea. It is for the other Member States. The benefits are not only for Guinea, it benefits other member states too. If you read the memorandum, you will realize that the Fouta Djallon Highlands is the source (water tower) and it cuts across the Niger River and the Mano River,” Chairman Ismaila said.
Questioned on what if the military government in Conakry becomes reluctant to cooperate with the ECOWAS in retaliation of the Authority of Heads of State decision to suspend them from the regional body, Chairman Ismail said, “We don’t foresee any reluctance on the part of the Guinean government. They will not be reluctant because the Programme belongs to the entire Community. The benefits are for the Community peoples and I don’t see the Guinean government being reluctant.”
The AFC Chairman was speaking following the presentation of the final report of the ‘Thirtieth Meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee,’ held from 25th November – 2nd December 2021 in Abuja-Nigeria for which Guinea and Mali did not participate due to their suspension from all ECOWAS governing bodies by the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Represented at the meeting were representatives of ECO Institutions and Specialized Agencies such as the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Parliament, Community Court of Justice, West African Health Organization (WAHO), Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), and the Office of the Auditor-General.
As part of its adoption of agenda and work programme, it was resolved that as item No.8 , ‘Presentation and Consideration of Memorandum on the Institutional Framework for the Regional Integrated Development Programme of the Fouta Djallon Highlands.’
The AFC’s final report indicated that at the thirtieth meeting of the AFC, “ The Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources presented a memorandum on the institutional arrangement of the Regional Integrated Development Programme of the Fouta Djallon Highlands for ECOWAS Commission to bear the costs of supporting the Programme Coordinator based in Abuja and the Programme Observatory Officer of the Programme based in Guinea.”
The AFC 77th Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Monrovia on 16th December 2016 approved the transfer of the Fouta Djallon Programme from the African Union to the ECOWAS and the Transfer Act on the transfer of PRAI MFD from the African Union to the ECOWAS, signed on 24th October 2018 in Addis Ababa took effect from that date.
The annual operating budget of the Programme is estimated at UA 201,719,68 with the need to recruit a Program Coordination Officer and the Programme Observatory Officer assisted by a driver.
The AFC reportedly lauded the memorandum of the Programme after seeking clarifications and recommended to the Council that it consider and approve it. The AFC however further requested that quarterly performance reports should be submitted to the ECOWAS Commission and bi-annual reports to AFC.
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