Pan-African Parliament Opens Sitting of Committees in Midrand Focused on Education and Human Rights

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) officially opened its Sitting of Committees and Other Organs on Monday September 16, 2024 in Midrand, South Africa. The session, hosted under the African Union (AU) theme of the year, "Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa," highlighted the critical need for resilient and inclusive education systems on the continent.

The opening remarks were delivered by the President of the Pan-African Parliament, His Excellency Chief Fortune Charumbira. A welcome address was given by South Africa’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Pemmy Majodina, who, until June 2024, was a member of the Pan-African Parliament and the Chairperson of its Southern Regional Caucus.

Swearing-In of New Members

The event saw the swearing-in of about 20 new members from various countries, including Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, and South Africa. Their induction marks a commitment to upholding the PAP’s mission of promoting unity and cooperation among African nations through legislative processes.

Statements and Messages of Solidarity

In a show of continental and international solidarity, numerous high-profile figures sent their messages to the PAP, underscoring the importance of the AU theme and PAP's ongoing efforts in strengthening human rights and education.

• Hon. Roger Mancienne, Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles and President of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), addressed the session virtually. While apologizing for his absence due to conflicting commitments, Mancienne emphasized the importance of the AU theme, noting that the focus on education resonates deeply with him, given his background as a teacher. He highlighted the need for a continental education strategy to address the challenges facing Africa's education sector, particularly the high number of out-of-school children.
• Hon. Remy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the Banjul Commission, also appeared virtually, reiterating the strong relationship between the Banjul Commission and PAP. He commended PAP’s President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, for his unwavering dedication to promoting human rights across the continent. Ngoy Lumbu stressed the complementary roles of the two organs under their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and expressed openness to future collaborations.
• H.E. Bassam Elhussiny, Charge de Affaires of the State of Palestine, took the opportunity to commend the South African government for its bold decision to bring Israel to the International Court over its war against the Palestinian people. Elhussiny clarified that South Africa’s legal action was not an adversarial gesture toward Israel but rather a call for the respect of international law and treaty obligations.
• Hon. Ali Hassan Bahdon, Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Djibouti, underscored the vital connection between peace, security, and education. He expressed his appreciation for PAP’s commitment to improving human rights on the continent and called for strengthened efforts to ensure that educational initiatives lead to a peaceful and secure future for Africa and then called on the PAP to advocate for the decolonization of human rights and to ensure that the concept aligns with the realities on the African continent.

Key Presentations to PAP Members

Following the statements, presentations were made to the newly sworn-in members, focusing on pressing issues related to Africa's development.

• Agenda 2063: Status of Implementation of the STYIP: This presentation, led by Ms. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi, Director for Strategic Planning and Development at the African Union Commission (AUC), and Mr. Mohamed Abdisalam, Director of Strategy at AUDA-NEPAD, represented by his Deputy, focused on Africa’s long-term strategic vision. They emphasized the Pan-African values of solidarity and hard work as essential pillars for achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was highlighted as one of the continent's success stories, while advocacy for better public engagement and informed participation was called for. The AU Executive Council’s decision 1260, which mandates a review of the first ten years of Agenda 2063, was also discussed. Strengthening national implementation structures and aligning PAP with results-based management were stressed as crucial for realizing the Agenda’s goals.

Moving Forward

As the session progressed, PAP members delved into other critical discussions such as peace and security, climate change, energy security, and pandemic preparedness. These topics reflect Africa’s multifaceted challenges and the parliament's resolve to address them through legislation and collaboration with various organs and international partners.

The session ended with closing remarks from PAP Third Vice President, Hon. Lucia Dos Passos, who called on members to stay committed to the ideals of the AU and PAP in fostering unity and development across Africa.

The sitting continues throughout the week with more deliberations on the state of the continent and strategic actions required to advance Africa’s shared goals.