SECOND SESSION OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT 16 September 2004 GALLAGHER ESTATE, MIDRAND, GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Meetings

• Second Session of the Pan African Parliament
  • Protocol Guidelines and Administrative Arrangements
• Ad Hoc Rules Committee meeting
• Ad Hoc Credentials Committee meeting
• Ad Hoc Budget Committee meeting

• Constitutive Act
• Assembly/AU/Dec.17(II)
• Protocol on the Pan African Parliament
• List of Member States that have signed and ratified the Protocol relating to the Pan African Parliament
• List of Members of the Pan African Parliament

INAUGURAL AND THE FIRST SESSION OF THE PANAFRICAN PARLIAMENT

The African Union, on Thursday, March 18, 2004, took another giant stride by inaugurating the Pan-African Parliament, one of its most important organs. The Pan-African Parliament, within the initial period, shall have consultative and advisory powers only, with the aim of ultimately evolving into an institution with full legislative powers.

Two hundred and two (202) legislators from 41 of the 53 Member States of the African Union, were yesterday sworn in at a solemn ceremony presided over by the Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Mr. Joachim Chissano, President of the Republic of Mozambique and witnessed by the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Girma Wolde Giorgis; the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi and Prof. Alpha Oumar Konaré, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union.

The Pan-African Parliament elected the Hon. MP Mrs. Getrude Mongela from the United Republic of Tanzania as President who will spearhead the affairs of the Pan-African Parliament .

The following were elected Vice-Presidents:

Prof F. Jose Dias Van-Du’Nem, an Angolan, 1st Vice-President (South);

Dr. Mohammed Lutfi Farahat, a Libyan, 2nd Vice-President (North);

Mrs. Loum N. Ne’loumsei Elise, a Chadian, 3rd Vice-President (Central);

Mr. Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere, a Beninois, 4th Vice-President (West).

According to Prof. Konaré, the Pan-African Parliament has a “vital role to play in the implementation of the objectives and principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the Union, particularly, with regard to the protection of human rights consolidation of democratic institutions, popularization and promotion of good governance”.

Addis Ababa, March 19, 2004

(PRESS RELEASE No.019/2004 )