PAP, Algeria to strengthen cooperation

A high-powered Pan-African Parliament (PAP) delegation, headed by President of PAP H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira, has commenced a five-day official visit to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria at the invitation of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria.

The visit is intended to strengthen cooperation with the Algerian Parliament and engage relevant Government stakeholders on areas of interest to the work of the continental Parliament. The visit is also part of the commitment to bring the PAP closer to the people of Africa.

The PAP delegation was received on Tuesday by the Speaker of the People’s National Assembly Rt. Hon. Brahim Boughali.

Welcoming the PAP delegation, Rt. Hon. Boughali lauded the President of the PAP and his team for the sterling work currently going on at the PAP, and conveyed the Algerian Parliamentary body’s commitment to working closely with the PAP to meet the aspirations of the African citizens, especially the youth.

He recognized the PAP’s role in advocating for African solutions to African problems and then proposed a collaborative framework with the Continental Parliament to tackle issues affecting the continent including extremism, climate change and youth unemployment.

The President of the PAP, H.E. Chief Charumbira expressed gratitude to the Parliament, the government and the people of Algeria for the consideration accorded to the PAP. He thanked Algeria for playing a decisive role in bringing stability back to Africa’s Parliament through its support for the principle of rotation, which is now applied at all levels of leadership in the Parliament.

The PAP President reiterated his appreciation for Algeria for actively supporting liberation and decolonization movements in Africa. According to H.E. Chief Charumbira, Algeria’s commitment to Africa makes the country the right partner in the process of finding solutions to the challenges facing the continent.

The PAP President expressed readiness to collaborate with the People’s National Assembly of Algeria in a bid to enhance the capacity of the PAP to deliver on its mandate. Among possible areas of collaboration, the PAP President proposed “twinning” of Permanent Committees whereby Committees from both Parliaments will join up for experience sharing. A proposal was also put forward for collaboration on election observation missions.

The official visit by the PAP delegation will afford the opportunity for further discussions on concrete proposals and a way forward as part of strengthening the cooperation.

This will include engagements with selected ministries including Foreign Affairs, Energy, Transport and Trade. The delegation will also meet with students, civil society and African Union institutions based in Algeria.

The PAP delegation is comprised of 1st Vice President, Hon. Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf (Mrs.); 4th Vice President, Hon. Francois Ango Ndoutoume; Chairperson of the Southern Africa Caucus, Hon. Pemmy Madjodina (South Africa); Chairperson of the Western Africa Caucus, Hon. Alhagie Mbow (Gambia); Chairperson of the Eastern Africa Caucus, Hon. Terrence Mondon (Seychelles); and Chairperson of the Northern Africa Caucus, Hon. Sen. Azzeddine Abdelmadjid (Algeria).

Members of the Algerian delegation to the PAP including Hon. Behdja Lammali, Chairperson of the PAP Permanent Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology also joined the mission.

Source: MCU, Pan-African Parliament