PAP Urges Stronger Parliamentary Cooperation, Malabo Protocol Ratification at Lomé Conference

At the African Parliamentary Union conference in Lomé, PAP calls for closer cooperation, action against illicit financial flows and Malabo Protocol ratification.

Lomé, Togo | 13 November 2026 — The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has called for stronger cooperation among Africa’s parliamentary institutions, highlighting coordinated parliamentary diplomacy, the fight against corruption and the advancement of its legislative mandate as priorities for engagement with national legislatures.

Representing PAP President H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig at the 48th Conference of the African Parliamentary Union (APU), the Parliament’s Third Vice-President, Hon. Djidda Mamar Mahamat, emphasized the complementary roles of the two institutions in strengthening parliamentary engagement across the continent.

The conference takes place in the year marking the APU’s fiftieth anniversary. Founded in Abidjan in 1976, the organization has provided a platform for consultation, solidarity and the exchange of experiences among African national parliaments.

Mahamat paid tribute to that contribution while outlining opportunities for closer cooperation with the Pan-African Parliament.

Connecting National Parliaments with the African Union

The PAP representative highlighted the relationship between the two institutions: the APU brings together national parliamentary institutions, while the Pan-African Parliament carries the voice of Africa’s peoples within the African Union.

Their relationship is reinforced by the national parliamentary membership from which PAP representatives are drawn. This connection provides a practical foundation for linking continental deliberations with parliamentary debate and action at national level.

Closer cooperation could help legislators share experience, coordinate responses to common challenges and strengthen African parliamentary positions. Its practical value would lie in translating conference discussions into sustained engagement within participating legislatures.

Three Priorities for the Seventh Parliament

Mahamat outlined three priorities defined by the Pan-African Parliament at the beginning of its seventh legislature under President Boutbig’s leadership.

The first is to develop parliamentary diplomacy focused on concrete results, complementing the African Union’s executive mechanisms. This approach positions parliamentary engagement as an additional channel for dialogue and cooperation in support of continental objectives.

The second is to strengthen relations with national, regional and international parliaments, as well as parliamentary groups. These relationships offer opportunities to exchange legislative experience, improve coordination and build support for shared priorities.

The third is to establish a network of parliamentarians to coordinate positions and strengthen efforts against corruption and illicit financial flows.

Such a network could provide a platform for exchanging oversight experience and identifying common areas for parliamentary action. Its effectiveness would depend on clear objectives, sustained participation and follow-up within the legislatures represented.

Renewed Appeal for Malabo Protocol Ratification

The PAP representative also reiterated the ambition to transform the Pan-African Parliament into a fully legislative institution.

According to the release, the Malabo Protocol requires 28 ratifications to enter into force. Mahamat stressed the essential role of national assemblies in advancing that process.

The appeal places ratification at the centre of the parliamentary cooperation agenda. Stronger relations between PAP and national parliaments could help sustain discussion of the Protocol, clarify its institutional significance and encourage engagement with the relevant national authorities.

For PAP, closer parliamentary ties therefore offer an opportunity to build support for its intended legislative role alongside cooperation on governance and continental development.

Appreciation to Togo and Conference Organisers

On behalf of President Boutbig and the Pan-African Parliament, Mahamat expressed appreciation to the President of the Council of Togo, H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the Togolese authorities, the Presidents of the National Assembly and Senate, and the Togolese people for their reception and hospitality.

He also thanked the Chairperson of the APU Executive Committee and its Secretary-General for inviting the PAP President, describing the invitation as an expression of fraternity and close relations between the institutions.

As the APU marks five decades of parliamentary cooperation, PAP’s message in Lomé sets out an agenda for stronger institutional links, coordinated action on shared governance challenges and sustained advocacy for the Malabo Protocol.