The Imperative of Pan-African Parliament's Review of the AU Budget - AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

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Tuesday, July 30, 2024

The Imperative of Pan-African Parliament's Review of the AU Budget

Opinion by OLU. IBEKWE

The President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto, recently emphasized the importance of submitting the African Union’s budget to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) before it is approved by the Assembly of the Union. President Ruto, the newly appointed African Union Champion for Institutional Reforms, made this call during the opening of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Nairobi in May this year.

This advocacy by the new AU Champion for Institutional Reform is significant, representing a refreshing push towards aligning the AU with the founders' vision of an empowered Parliament. The African Union (AU) embodies a collective vision of unity, cooperation, and progress across the African continent. Central to the AU's mission is the effective management of resources, including its budget, to support initiatives, programs, and projects that benefit African nations and their citizens. In this context, the role of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in reviewing and making recommendations on the AU budget is crucial for promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic governance within the organization.

The Protocol Establishing the PAP clearly outlines the mandate of the parliamentary body, including its role in budgetary matters. Article 11.1 of the Protocol empowers the PAP to “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 for human rights, the consolidation of democratic institutions and the culture of democracy, as well as the promotion of good governance and the rule of law.” Specifically, Article 11.2 of the Protocol provides for the PAP to discuss “the budget of the Community and make recommendations thereon prior to its approval by the Assembly.” This provision reflects the AU's commitment to democratic principles, parliamentary oversight, and inclusive decision-making processes.

In recognition of the PAP's envisioned role in the AU governance architecture, the Assembly of the Union stated in the Durban Declaration in Tribute to the Organization of African Unity and on the Launching of the African Union (ASS/AU/Draft/Decl. 2 (I), February 28, 2004, Sirte, Libya): “We recommit ourselves to ensuring the early establishment of the Pan-African Parliament in order to provide the common platform for our peoples and civil society formations to actively participate in discussions and decision-making on the challenges facing our continent; we undertake to implement appropriate policies for the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance, the respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic institutions which will consolidate the popular participation of our peoples on these issues.”

Involving the PAP in budget discussions and recommendations is consistent with the founders' vision, enhancing transparency, fostering democratic participation, and ensuring that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of African citizens as represented by their elected parliamentarians. It allows for parliamentary scrutiny, oversight, and input into budgetary decisions, promoting checks and balances within the AU's financial processes.

Engaging the PAP in budget discussions aligns with principles of good governance, accountability, and inclusivity, providing a platform for parliamentary representatives to voice concerns, propose amendments, and advocate for budget allocations that support AU programs, initiatives, and mandates beneficial to member states and their populations. This engagement promotes transparency by allowing parliamentarians, as representatives of African citizens, to scrutinize financial allocations, expenditures, and priorities within the AU budget. Such transparency fosters public trust and confidence in the AU's financial management processes.

Parliamentary review of the AU budget and oversight ensures accountability by holding AU institutions and officials accountable for their financial decisions and resource utilization. The PAP can assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of budgetary allocations in achieving AU objectives and mandates. For instance, Agenda 2063, conceived and implemented with little parliamentary oversight, could benefit from such scrutiny. Although the AU celebrated the 10th anniversary of Agenda 2063 last year, many Africans remain unaware of the program. This is why the Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (2015) in Johannesburg, South Africa (Doc.EX.CL/920(XXVII)) encouraged PAP to support the popularization of the AU Agenda 2063 within Member States, alongside the Commission and other stakeholders. The Twenty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (July 2016) in Kigali, Rwanda (Doc. EX.CL/963(XXIX)), called upon the PAP to continue working with National and Regional Parliaments and ECOSOCC to mobilize its constituency to ensure Agenda 2063 is integrated as Africa's vision and planning framework through legislative enactment to facilitate institutionalization.

Engaging the PAP in budget discussions will enable the parliament to play its expected role in popularizing the AU Agenda 2063 and ensuring that diverse perspectives, priorities, and voices from across Africa are considered in budgetary decisions. Parliamentarians can advocate for budget allocations that address the needs and concerns of member states and promote inclusive development. Such a review role will strengthen oversight mechanisms within the AU by providing an additional layer of scrutiny and checks on financial matters, consistent with practices in Member States where national budgets are passed by parliaments. This oversight will contribute to sound financial management, risk mitigation, and prevention of financial improprieties or mismanagement.

Above all, the involvement of the PAP in budget review aligns with democratic principles of governance, separation of powers, and accountability to elected representatives. It will reinforce the AU's commitment to democratic norms, institutional transparency, and participatory decision-making.

Therefore, promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic participation by engaging the parliamentary body in meaningful discussions and recommendations regarding the AU budget is crucial. Finding a balanced approach that respects the roles and responsibilities of both the executive and parliamentary branches can strengthen democratic governance and effective financial management within the African Union.

As Africa's premier continental legislative body, the Pan-African Parliament plays a pivotal role in promoting democratic governance, advancing continental integration, and representing the interests of African citizens. Empowering the PAP to review and make recommendations on the AU budget is not only a constitutional mandate but also a fundamental aspect of fostering democratic oversight, transparency, and accountability within the African Union.

In conclusion, sending the AU budget to the Pan-African Parliament for discussion and recommendations before approval by the Assembly of the Union is essential for strengthening democratic governance, promoting inclusive decision-making, and enhancing the AU's effectiveness in delivering on its commitments to the people of Africa. It is a step towards a more transparent, accountable, and responsive continental organization that prioritizes the interests and aspirations of African nations and their citizens.

 


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