AfCFTA, Climate Action, and Democracy Dominate 13th Pan-African Parliament Speakers’ Conference

The 13th Conference of Speakers of Africa’s National and Regional Parliaments opened on Monday with impassioned calls for deeper continental integration, stronger parliamentary mandates, and people-centered governance to drive Africa’s transformation.

Convened under the theme “Transforming Parliaments for Citizen-Driven Continental Integration, Sustainable Development, Prosperity and Peace, and Enhancing Africa’s Dynamic Role on the Global Stage,” the two-day forum brought together presiding officers from across the continent, South African leaders, and representatives of regional and continental institutions.

The opening ceremony featured keynote and special addresses by Rt. Hon. Louis Gbéhounou Vlavonou, Speaker of the Assemblée Nationale du Bénin; Hon. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, South Africa; Hon. Alvin Botes, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; and H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

Rt. Hon. Louis Gbéhounou Vlavonou: Confronting History, Defining the Future

Delivering the Keynote Address, Benin’s National Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Louis Gbéhounou Vlavonou, set the tone for frank introspection and bold ambition.

• On the Legacy of Slavery: He acknowledged Africa’s painful past with candor. “Slavery deported our brothers for over 400 years. But let us ask ourselves: did outsiders hunt our brothers in the fields, or did Africans sell their own? This painful history demands introspection and recognition of shared responsibility.”
• On Democracy and Development: Vlavonou urged parliaments to measure democracy not by form but by impact. “Democracy is not an end in itself. If it does not allow us to feed our people, educate our children, and meet basic needs, then it is only words in the air.”
• On the Pan-African Parliament: He questioned why Africa still lacks a directly elected continental legislature. “Until we achieve this, Africa risks cheating itself of its true democratic potential.”
• On Integration & Agenda 2063: Drawing on Benin’s record of regional openness, he emphasized free movement, diaspora integration, and legislative leadership in driving the African Union’s long-term vision.

Closing his remarks, he invoked proverbial wisdom: “Slowly but surely, the chameleon reaches the top of the cheese. With persistence, Africa will overcome its delays and rise to its rightful place in the world.”

Hon. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane: A South African Call for Pan-African Solidarity

Speaking on behalf of the Parliament of South Africa, Hon. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, welcomed delegates warmly.

She tied the gathering to the imminent 11th P20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in Cape Town (1–3 October 2025) and the G20 Summit that South Africa will host in November.

Her speech underscored:

• Collective Agency: “Through collaboration among Speakers and Presiding Officers, we can redefine African parliaments as true instruments of representative and participatory democracy.”
• Contemporary Challenges: She highlighted trade, climate change, agriculture, technology, peace, and security as defining areas where parliaments must exert intellectual sovereignty and shape Africa’s global positioning.
• Inclusive Transformation: “Our parliaments must be more involved and rooted in the core issues that affect our people, especially women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.”

Mtshweni-Tsipane concluded by urging unity of purpose: “The future is a site that does not yet exist, but one we can reshape through Pan-African unity and collective consciousness towards a better Africa and better world.”

Hon. Alvin Botes: South Africa’s Commitment to Democracy and Agenda 2063

Hon. Alvin Botes, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, framed the Conference as both a continental milestone and a national responsibility.

Welcoming delegates “home” on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, he underlined:

• The Role of PAP: “This platform serves as the legislative heartbeat of our Continent, where the voices of African citizens are truly heard.”
• Thematic Urgency: He called on parliaments to translate the conference theme into action, warning against rhetorical slogans.
• Facing Challenges Together: From climate change and youth unemployment to gender-based violence and energy insecurity, he pressed for “African solutions to African problems.”
• Digital Futures: Botes spotlighted the promise and risks of artificial intelligence, calling for ethical governance and equitable access to technology.
• Upcoming Milestones: He announced South Africa’s hosting of the first African Diaspora Week in October 2025, aligned with the AU Decade for African Roots and Diaspora, and reaffirmed commitment to elevating Africa’s voice as G20 Chair.

He concluded with a Mandela reminder: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

H.E. Wamkele Mene: AfCFTA as Africa’s Industrial Engine

Delivering a policy-rich address, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, spotlighted the trade pact as Africa’s vehicle for resilience and industrialisation.

• Progress So Far: Mene reported a surge in AfCFTA Certificates of Origin, from only 13 in 2022 to 8,561 by June 2025, and a rebound of intra-African trade to $220.3 billion in 2024. Industrial goods now increasingly outpace raw commodities in trade flows.
• Strategic Sectors: He highlighted continental strategies in textiles, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, and especially the automotive sector, backed by a $1 billion facility to drive manufacturing and job creation.
• Inclusivity: Women, youth, and SMEs, he stressed, are central to AfCFTA’s success. Instruments like the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade and the Adjustment Fund must be domesticated and implemented for real impact.
• The Role of Parliaments: Mene urged legislatures to accelerate ratification, domestication, and oversight of AfCFTA commitments. “The Agreement’s success will not be measured by protocols signed, but by the improvement in the lives of our people.”

His message was clear: Africa must consolidate gains, remove persistent barriers, and legislate to ensure that AfCFTA becomes the continent’s primary driver of jobs, competitiveness, and prosperity.

Towards a Unified Parliamentary Voice

The opening day of the 13th Conference showcased both honest introspection and pragmatic vision. From Benin’s candid reflection on history to South Africa’s emphasis on solidarity, and from Botes’ call for ethical innovation to Mene’s blueprint for trade-driven growth, one theme resonated throughout: parliaments must step into the driver’s seat of Africa’s integration and transformation.

As deliberations continue, the Conference is set to adopt a Final Communiqué that will shape Africa’s parliamentary priorities ahead of the P20 in Cape Town and the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November.

The message from Midrand is unmistakable: Africa’s legislatures are no longer content to be passive observers, they are asserting themselves as engines of change in the march toward Agenda 2063 and a stronger Africa on the global stage.