African Union’s suspension of Mali has vindicated us – Hon. Pemmy Majodina

A member of South Africa’s delegation to the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Hon. Pemmy Majodina has commended the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for approving the suspension of the Republic of Mali from all activities of the AU including its organs and institutions.

She said that the suspension has vindicated those who had opposed the swearing in of members of the Mali delegation at the suspended Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of PAP.

Hon. Majodina who is the Chief Whip of the majority African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa National Parliament, made the commendation in an exclusive interview with African Parliamentary News while reacting to the announcement of the suspension of Mali by the AU.

She stated emphatically that Africa cannot at this stage, allow coup plotters to be in control of any part of the continent and described the development as a good lesson for any country where “roughians think that they can hold democracy to ransom”.

“We stand to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance”

“It is against that background that we moved a motion in PAP that Mali’s delegation must not be sworn in because that delegation did not come through democratic processes and we were seen as blocking Mali because a candidate from there was contesting for the president of PAP”.

“Tell me what was going to happen if ever the election of PAP President was allowed to hold and the candidate from Mali won. It was going to be a disgrace to PAP as an institution”.

It would be recalled that the AU Peace and Security Council had on Tuesday June 1, 2021 issued a communiqué after its meeting which announced the suspension of the Republic of Mali from participation in all the activities of the AU, its organs and institutions until normal constitutional order has been restored in the country. This decision has in effect, suspended Mali’s delegation to PAP from further participating in all activities of the continental parliament.