Pan-African Parliament In Grip Of Existential Crisis

Though its motto is "one Africa, one voice", the reality of "Africa's parliament" could not be more different

Midrand, South Africa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2017 ) :Though its motto is "one Africa, one voice", the reality of "Africa's parliament" could not be more different. Since its creation in 2004, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has struggled to make its voice heard, prompting its deputies to ask themselves at a recent gathering: "What are we for?" "Every time we're here, we obsess over the same things.

If we are not making laws, then what's the point of being here?" Corneille Padonou of Benin said to his fellow parliamentarians. "This forum is not a parliament, it is just a discussion platform that does not have any legislative powers.

This institution is still wobbly," said Floyd Shivambu, a parliamentarian from South Africa. "As it is, it is a waste of resources." The PAP, which is headquartered in South Africa, currently has 229 parliamentarians from 51 countries appointed from among those nation's own parliaments.

On paper, the assembly is the legislative branch of the African Union (AU). But in reality it merely has consultative powers. "Its role is essentially limited to making recommendations," said the parliament's Chadian deputy secretary general Gali Massa Harou.

The Malabo Protocol issued in 2014 was intended to be a game changer, giving the PAP sweeping legislative powers -- but the document was never adopted after receiving formal support from just five countries of the required 28.

"We really don't understand -- everyone here is happy for this (agreement) to be ratified" but nothing is happening, said Algerian delegate Mohamed Tayeb Laskri during the PAP's most recent sitting in October.

"At this rate, it's going to take us 20 years to sign the agreement," warned Laskri's Tanzanian colleague David Silinde to applause from his fellow parliamentarians. Without any real power, the PAP has effectively become a smoking room for friends, according to Egyptian member Moustafa El Gindy.

The headquarters are in Midrand, an industrial town half way between Pretoria and Johannesburg, temporarily located beside a convention centre. Even sat navs struggle to find it. With an annual budget of $22 million (18.6 million Euros), the PAP meets twice a year for sessions that require 60 interpreters.

Parliamentarians' home countries cover the costs of flights, accommodation and food. On the issue of getting the parliament's law-making powers rubber stamped, one representative from Mali came up with a novel idea during the October session.