Pan-African Parliament Secures $650,000 Special Budget Allocation from AU Executive Council

The African Union Executive Council has approved a special budget allocation of US$650 000 to the Pan African Parliament (PAP), paving the way for the successful convening of the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament, among other critical operations.

The approval was granted during the 47th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 10–11 July 2025. The decision followed a proposal from the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which recognized the urgent operational needs of PAP amid long-standing budgetary constraints.

This special allocation is earmarked to support several critical activities, including:

• The convening of the 5th Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament
• Participation of PAP in AU statutory activities and missions
• Bureau meetings and rotational duties
• Interpretation and logistical support for official meetings

A Product of Strategic Lobbying

The move is the direct result of strategic lobbying by the PAP Bureau, led by its President, H.E. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira. In a series of engagements with AU officials, President Charumbira emphasized that PAP’s operational capacity had been severely undermined by continued funding based on outdated assumptions.

He argued that despite the Parliament’s return to full physical operations on 29 June 2022, it has been operating on a “lockdown budget” — a reduced allocation introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic when activities shifted to virtual formats. The Parliament’s budget was slashed in 2019 to less than a third of its functional needs and has not been restored since, despite resumed physical meetings and growing demands on the institution.

Operational Paralysis Eased, but Not Resolved

While the US$650,000 special allocation is acknowledged as insufficient to fully restore PAP’s operational capacity, it is regarded as a critical step forward. It will provide immediate relief to the Parliament’s most pressing needs, particularly in hosting the Ordinary Session and fulfilling its oversight and legislative support roles.

“The approval of this special budget is a welcome development. Although it does not fully cover the Parliament’s requirements, it goes a long way in addressing the paralysis caused by inadequate funding,” a PAP spokesperson noted.

Reaffirming Continental Commitment

The special allocation signals a renewed commitment by the African Union’s policy organs to empower the Pan-African Parliament as a vital platform for continental dialogue, legislative action, and policy oversight.

Set to take place under the AU’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” the Fifth Ordinary Session will see lawmakers engage in debates on key committee reports, adopt policy recommendations, and receive critical updates from AU organs and other continental bodies.