African Parliamentary Leadership Gathers in Midrand for 13th Conference of Speakers

The 13th Conference of Speakers of Africa’s National and Regional Parliaments officially commenced on Monday, 29 September 2025, at the precincts of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. Over two days, parliamentary leaders from across the continent will converge to deliberate on how to strengthen legislatures as critical actors in Africa’s continental integration, sustainable development, peace, and global repositioning.

The Conference is 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.”

As the continental legislative hub, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) plays an auspicious host. The event also serves as a critical precursor to the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) slated for 1–3 October 2025 in Cape Town, whose outcomes will be informed by the deliberations in Midrand.

Opening Ceremony: Voices of Continental Commitment

The opening ceremony drew a distinguished assembly of dignitaries, including:

·       Rt. Hon. Louis Gbéhounou Vlavonou, Speaker of the Assemblée Nationale du Bénin, who delivered the Keynote address;

·       The Vice Presidents of PAP: Hon. Dr. Habib, Hon. Dr. Gayo, and Hon. Lucia dos Passos;

·       Hon. Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments from across Africa;

·       Hon. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, South Africa;

·       Hon. Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa;

·       H.E. Marie Antoinette Rose Quatre, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM);

·       Hon. Members of the Pan-African Parliament;

·       Mr. Oumar Doumbouya, Director for External Offices in the European Union Directorate for Parliamentary Democracy Partnerships, accompanied by representatives of the European Parliament; and other regional and international delegations.

This high-level participation underscores the ambition to position Africa’s legislatures at the centre of both national and continental transformation strategies.

Chief Charumbira’s Opening Speech: A Clarion Call for Active Legislatures

At the heart of the opening lies the stirring address by H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, which set the tone for the conference. In his remarks, Chief Charumbira elaborated on the evolving mandate of PAP, the urgency for performance orientation, and the critical role of parliamentary institutions in interpreting the will of citizens across Africa.

He reminded participants that:

·       The founding purpose of PAP was to anchor the African Union and Africa itself as a union of citizens, not merely a union of member states. Without the voice of people’s representatives, the Union risks lacking democratic legitimacy.

·       Parliaments at all levels must become active enablers of accountability, oversight, and translation of AU treaties and continental frameworks into enforceable national laws.

·       PAP must continue to shift from perception to performance, embracing a results-driven culture aligned with Agenda 2063, national development plans, and the AU’s “moonshots” approach.

·       In recent times, PAP’s relationship with the Peace and Security Council has been reinvigorated via a joint retreat, signalling stronger institutional synergy on peace, conflict prevention, and early warning architecture.

·       Africa cannot afford to remain sidelined on the world stage—its voice matters in global negotiations, whether over climate justice, trade rules, or digital governance.

His address was also firm in tone: “We should be ashamed of fiddling while Africa burns,” a line that resonated across social media coverage of the opening. He articulated that Africa’s peace architecture is incomplete without the voices of its people, and that citizens must be placed at the center of all continental integration efforts.

Through his address, Chief Charumbira positioned the conference not merely as a forum for debate, but as a launchpad for action, urging legislative leadership to reimagine and retool the continental governance ecosystem.

Thematic Focus & Agenda

Over the two days, the Conference will tackle five interlinked pillars:

1.     Role of Parliaments in Continental Integration and Oversight of AU Treaties
Speakers will examine the legislative pathways for accelerating treaty ratification, harmonising laws across regions, and ensuring that national legislatures become engines of integration, not impediments.

2.     Harnessing the AfCFTA for Industrialisation and Inclusive Growth
Given the African Continental Free Trade Area’s promise, delegates will debate how parliaments can craft supportive frameworks for industrial policy, address non-tariff barriers, and ensure inclusion of women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

3.     Strengthening Parliamentary Diplomacy and Mediation for Peace and Stability
In conflict-affected environments across Africa, parliaments can play unique roles in mediation, oversight, reconciliation, and civic engagement. Case studies and mechanisms for parliamentary diplomacy will be on the agenda.

4.     Leveraging Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Development
Recognising both opportunity and risk, parliamentarians will engage on legislative models, governance safeguards, and oversight mechanisms that can guide AI adoption in sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and public services—without undermining human rights or amplifying inequality.

5.     Advancing Trade Justice, Climate Resilience, and Ethical Resource Governance through the P20
As Africa positions its voice in the upcoming Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit, the Conference will refine Africa’s unified stance on climate justice, trade equity, resource governance, and global institutional reform.

At the close of day two, participants are expected to adopt a Final Communiqué setting out Africa’s parliamentary priorities, commitments to Agenda 2063, the SDGs, and a common vision for more inclusive global governance.

Context And Significance

This 13th Speakers’ Conference is not simply another gathering. It comes at a moment of global flux—where shifts in trade rules, digital competition, climate volatility, and geopolitical alignment press Africa to assert its own agenda.

For the Pan-African Parliament, hosting this annual event reinforces its evolving role as a convener, coordinator, and guardian of legislative coherence on the continent. PAP’s efforts to strengthen capacity, performance orientation, and cross-institutional synergy (for example, with the Peace and Security Council) reflect strategic direction ahead of the G20 P20 Summit in Cape Town.

As debates proceed across plenaries and breakout sessions, much will depend on whether national parliaments commit to translating continental vision into domestic action. The legacy of this conference will rest less on speeches and more on how African legislatures adopt and implement the standards, oversight models, and shared priorities that emerge.

If successfully leveraged, the gathering could mark a turning point in which Africa’s parliaments become not just commentators on transformation, but its primary drivers. The eyes of the continent, and indeed, the world will watch closely.