FOR AFRICA: A high delegation of the Pan-African Parliament receiving Kenyan president William Ruto.
Photo: Namibian Parliament
FOR AFRICA: A high delegation of the Pan-African Parliament receiving Kenyan president William Ruto. Photo: Namibian Parliament

AU throws weight behind African parliament

• As Kenyan statesman advocates for clean energy
The PAP fight is set to be recognised as the legislative arm of the African Union was given a major boost when the latter pledged its full support.
NOREEN SITALI
Comoros president and chairperson of the African Union (AU) Azali Assoumani has pledged support for the realisation of the mandate of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) as the legislative arm of the AU.

He was speaking as a guest of honour at the opening of the second ordinary session of the sixth parliament, which is currently underway in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the AU theme for 2023: ‘Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’.

“I would like to assure all of you here present of my firm determination to work in close collaboration with African governments and other AU institutions, including the PAP, for more peace and progress in our continent.

“Our common duty, as you all know, is to help our organisation achieve the objectives it has set out in its Agenda 2063,” Assoumani said.

He added that for Africa to develop and grow, peace and stability must prevail.

“It is clear that in addition to terrorist threats, unconstitutional changes of government and the war in Sudan has worsened the situation. Not only does this war create chaos in this brotherly country, but it risks destabilising an already fragile region, with all the consequences this may have on the people.

“We must then, on this aspect too, unite our efforts, and agree on the actions to be implemented to convince the warring parties to reach a ceasefire and to favour the negotiations for a happy and rapid outcome of this crisis,” he said.

Common agenda

The high-level engagement was aimed at identifying the common African agenda in the global stock-take process in the countdown to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the role parliamentarians can play.

In his enchanting keynote address, Kenyan president William Ruto called on all African states to join the journey to transitioning to clean energy that will support jobs, local economies and sustainable industrialisation.

“Africa can lead the world. We have immense potential for renewable energy. Reducing costs of renewal energy technologies makes this the most viable energy source,” he stressed.

The second ordinary session of the sixth parliament will run from 15 May to 2 June.

The Namibian PAP members are McHenry Venaani, Gerhard Shiimi, Bernadus Swartbooi and Hamunyera Hambyuka, who are led by Loide Kasingo.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-16

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