In implementation of the Decision of the Assembly/AU/Dec.17(II) adopted by the Second session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2003, in Maputo, Mozambique, the Commission of the African Union in collaboration with the Steering Committee on the Protocol relating to the Pan African Parliament, set up by The Assembly, has prepared for the Inauguration and the first session of the Pan African Parliament.

Under the Chairship of the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, the Steering Committee undertook a series of preparatory activities, which are nearing completion following its meetings in December 2003 and February 2004. The Commission of the African Union is now happy to announce that the Chairperson of the African Union, H.E Mr. Joachim Chissano, President of the Republic of Mozambique will chair the Inaugural Session of the Pan African Parliament that will take place at the UNECA Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 18 March 2004, followed by the First Session of the Pan African Parliament that will take place at the same venue.

As of 25 February 2004, 38 Member States have signed, ratified and deposited the instruments of ratification of the Protocol and 30 Member States have submitted the list of their five Members (at least one of whom is a woman) elected to the Pan African Parliament.

Part of the activities that will take place during this historic event will be the election of the President and the four Vice Presidents of the Pan African Parliament, the swearing in of the Pan African Parliamentarians and the debate by the Members of the Pan African Parliament during its First Session.

The Head of State and the Prime Minister of the host country, Ministers, Speakers of Parliaments, Members elected to membership of the Pan African Parliaments, eminent African Personalities, representatives of all parliamentary bodies in Africa and outside Africa, representatives from the civil society, from the youth, women and religious groups as well as several international organizations that are friends and supporters of Africa have been invited. Both continental and international based media organizations have also been invited to cover this historic moment live on and beyond the continent.