Africa’s Complex Challenges Demand Bold Parliamentary Action, Says PAP President in Benin

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira has called on African lawmakers to urgently confront the myriad challenges plaguing the continent. In a stirring address at the official opening of the National Assembly of Benin, Chief Charumbira painted a sobering picture of Africa’s socio-political landscape while urging legislators to become catalysts for transformational change.

H. E. Chief Charumbira who was invited to address the opening of the First Ordinary Session of the year 2025 of the National Assembly of Benin, was welcomed at Cotonou's Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport by the Benin delegation to the Pan-African Parliament, led by First Vice-President Barthélémy Kassa.

The PAP President emphasized that he felt compelled to honour the invitation to Benin due to the high regard he holds for its parliamentary delegation and praised the National Assembly of Benin for selecting a distinguished, articulate, and impactful team whose contributions command respect in the PAP Plenary. He highlighted the influential voices of Hon. Nicaise Kotchami Fagnon, Hon. Rosine Dagniho, Hon. Justin Agbodjete, Hon. Fadegnon Leon Degny, and Hon. Agoi Rogatienne Aikoele, acknowledging their valuable input and unwavering yet honest support of the PAP Bureau. He expressed regret over the departure of Hon. Pauline Agbenou but was reassured by the competence of her successors.

A Continent at the Crossroads

Charumbira began his diagnosis with a frank acknowledgment of Africa’s persistent crises: food insecurity, the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, terrorism, displacement, energy insecurity, and the lingering effects of COVID-19. He further highlighted illicit financial flows, weak legislative harmonization, youth drug abuse, and systemic human trafficking—all of which threaten to erode the continent’s development gains.

“These challenges yearn for solutions from us as representatives of the people,” he said, emphasizing the strategic role national parliaments must play in continental and global diplomacy. “If Benin sneezes, the rest of the continent catches a flu.”

Unresolved Conflicts and the Unkept Promise to Silence the Guns

One of the gravest concerns raised was the escalating number of armed conflicts in Africa. Referring to the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns by 2030” initiative, Charumbira lamented its limited progress, citing the protracted conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as glaring failures. “Over 15,000 people have been killed in Sudan and 21 million require urgent aid in the DRC. This forces us to ask: Why have we failed?” he queried.

He argued that Africa’s failure to address such conflicts stems not only from institutional weakness but also from a fundamental disconnect between governments and citizens. “Citizens are more likely to support alternative regimes, even military ones, if those promise security and stability,” he warned.

Parliaments Must Reclaim Their Oversight Role

Charumbira was unflinching in his criticism of the growing irrelevance of parliaments, particularly in the fight against corruption. He described the proliferation of independent anti-corruption commissions as a symptom of parliamentary failure. “The establishment of anti-corruption entities is evidence of the weakness of parliaments. We must self-introspect and demonstrate we have teeth to bite the scourge of corruption,” he declared.

Reparations and Justice: Benin’s Historic Responsibility

Tying into the African Union’s 2025 theme—“Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”—Charumbira underscored Benin’s moral responsibility. Recalling its legacy as a hub of the transatlantic slave trade, he urged Benin’s legislators to be at the forefront of reparatory justice.

“Porto-Novo was once the Slave Coast. Today, it must become the epicentre of Pan-African advocacy for reparations,” he proclaimed, invoking the 1993 Abuja Declaration and stressing that the fight is one of economic justice and dignity.

Agenda 2063 and the Role of Parliament

Charumbira placed the implementation of Agenda 2063, the AU’s development blueprint, squarely on the shoulders of legislators. Flagship projects like the African Integrated High-Speed Rail Network, the Inga Dam, and the Single African Air Transport Market, he said, “remain mere declarations unless parliaments hold the executive to account.”

He encouraged lawmakers to integrate Agenda 2063 into national development plans and ensure their implementation is citizen-centered, context-specific, and results-driven.

AfCFTA: A Call for Ratification and Action

The PAP President lamented Benin’s yet-to-be-completed ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa’s landmark economic integration instrument. “Without universal ratification, the promise of a single African market remains elusive,” he warned. He urged Benin’s National Assembly to expedite ratification and implementation efforts to unlock job creation and industrialization.

Model Law on Food Security and the Agricultural Imperative

Turning to food and energy insecurity, Charumbira announced a joint PAP–FAO Model Law on Food and Nutrition Security, encouraging Benin’s parliament to adapt it. The law addresses malnutrition, promotes sustainable agriculture, and prioritizes equitable access to resources for smallholder farmers. “Agriculture is the backbone of many African economies—Benin must lead by example,” he urged.

Climate Crisis and Health Preparedness

The speech also focused on Africa’s vulnerability to climate change and health crises. From deadly floods in Sudan and Nigeria to the looming threat of Mpox, Charumbira called for enhanced climate resilience, renewable energy investment, and robust health infrastructure. “We must ensure that our response to climate change is guided by justice. Those who pollute most suffer least,” he declared.

On health, he reminded delegates of COVID-19’s painful lessons, urging proactive regional cooperation, surveillance, and equitable access to vaccines.

Youth Bulge and Migration Pressures

Africa’s exploding youth population—expected to double Europe’s by 2100—was another focal point. Charumbira decried the mismatch between youth growth and job creation, with only 3 million new jobs created annually against a need for 18 million.

“This disconnect fuels illegal migration and radicalization,” he cautioned, noting that over half of former extremists in Africa joined such groups between the ages of 17 and 26. Instead of blocking migration, he advocated for legal pathways and improved intra-African mobility.

From Theme to Policy: The Need for Continuity

In closing, Charumbira criticized the African Union’s tendency to abandon one year’s theme for another without follow-through. Whether reparations in 2025, refugees in 2019, or education in 2024, he said, “we treat these themes like projects with end dates, rather than long-term policy imperatives.”

To truly build “The Africa We Want,” he concluded, parliaments must champion not only oversight and legislation but also continuity, accountability, and people-centered governance.