Pan-African Parliament
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The Pan-African Parliament, also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union. The African Parliament held its inaugural session in March 2004. At present it exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, which will last for the first five years of it's existence, after that time period it will exercise full legislative powers. Its 265 Parliamentary representitives are elected by the legislatures of the 53 AU states rather than being directly elected in their own capacity. Initially the seat of the Pan African Parliament was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia but it was later moved to Midrand, South Africa.
See also: List of Members of the Pan-African Parliament.
Additionally, Ten Permanent Committees were created dealing with different sectors of life in Africa.
The current President of the Parliament is Gertrude Mongella from Ukerewe, Tanzania.
The Parliament also consists of four Vice-Presidents. They are:
- Southern Africa. F. Jose Dias Van-Du’Nem from Angola.
- North Africa. Mohammed Lutfi Farhat from Libya.
- Central Africa. Loum N. Neloumsei Elise from Chad.
- West Africa. Theophile Nata from Benin.
The Parliament is assisted by the Secretariat of the Pan-African Parliament.
Objectives of Parliament
- Begin to implement the policies and objectives of the African Union.
- Cultivate human rights and democracy in Africa.
- Make sure Member States adhere to good governance, transparency and accountability.
- Let the peoples of Africa know what the objectives and policies of the African Union are so that they might be able to intergrate themselves contentally while still working within the framework of the AU.
- Engender peace, security and stability on the Continent.
- Promote self-reliance and economic recovery so as to lead to a more prosperous future for the peoples of Africa.
- Engender cooperation and development in Africa.
- Strengthen a sense of solidarity and build common destiny among the peoples of Africa.
- Create cooperation among Regional Economic Communities and their Members in Parliament.
Powers of Parliament
- Examine, discuss or express an opinion on any matter, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or other policy organs and make any recommendations it may deem fit relating to, inter alia, matters pertaining to respect of human rights, the consolidation of democratic institutions and the culture of democracy, as well as the promotion good governance and the rule of law.
- Discuss its budget and the budget of the Community and make recommedations theron prior to its approval by the Assembly of the African Union.
- Work towards the harmonisation or co-ordination of the laws of the Member State.
- Make recommendations aimed at contributing to the attainment of the objectives of the OAU/AEC and draw attention to the challenges facing the integration process in Africa as well as the strategies for dealing with them.
- Request officials of the OAU/AEC to attend its sessions, produce documents or assist in the discharge of its duties.
- Promote the programmes and objectives of the OAU/AEC, in the constituencies of the Member States.
- Promote the co-ordination and Harmonization of policies, measures, programmes and activities of the Regional Economic Communities and the parliamentary fora of Africa.
- Adopt its Rules of Procedure, elect its own President and propose to the Council and the Assembly the size and nature of the support staff of the Pan-African Parliament.
- Perform such other functions as it deems appropriate to achieve the objectives set out in Article 3 of the Protocol.
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