The legitimate Acting PAP president, Hon. Lucia Maria Mendes Goncalves Dos Passos
By Licious Mkuni
The African Union Executive Council on Thursday 15 February 2024, took a firm stance, issuing a series of directives aimed at restoring order in the crisis-ridden Pan African Parliament (PAP).
In recent years, PAP has experienced leadership wrangles, with the latest crisis involving Dr. Ashebiri Gayo, who unlawfully took control of the continental legislative body and made a series of unlawful decisions, appointments, recruitments, and programs that violated PAP protocol and rules of procedure.
With a focus on restoring transparency, independence, and adherence to proper procedures, the PAP crisis was on the agenda during the 44th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting was informed by a report presented by the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which was founded on the findings and recommendations of a fact-finding mission conducted by the Taskforce on the Situation at the Pan African Parliament in November 2023.
After thorough deliberations, the Council came up with the Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.9(XLIV) dated February 15, 2024, which lays out directives meant to realign the PAP with its mandate.
Firstly, the Council instructed the prompt convening of a PAP Plenary session at the headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, before the end of March 2024.
The primary aim of the session is to fill the vacancies in the PAP Bureau. The election process will be overseen by the Commission to ensure transparency and independence, adhering to the guidelines set by the Office of the Legal Counsel.
Secondly, with immediate effect, Third Vice President, Hon. Lucia Maria Mendes Goncalves Dos Passos, should assume the role of President in accordance with Article 12(7) of the Protocol, which specifies a rotational arrangement within the Bureau in the absence of a president.
This decision throws Dr Gayo under the bus as he had appointed himself as president.
The Executive Council also demanded the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo, the Clerk of the Secretariat of the Pan-African Parliament, whom the council feel her dismal was not justified.
In addition, the Council directed that the suspended Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament be reevaluated during the upcoming PAP Plenary session.
The Council also noted that the inconsistencies outlined in the Office of the Legal Counsel’s Legal Opinion should be carefully considered during this process.
Furthermore, any decisions made based on the suspended revised Rules of Procedure dated November 4, 2022, should be deemed null and void, warranting a fresh assessment of administrative decisions previously made by the former and current leadership of the PAP.
The decisions made by the African Union Executive Council reflect the commitment to address the challenges faced at the Pan African Parliament head-on.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is a continental parliament that represents the people of Africa and promotes the principles of African unity and solidarity.
With four main areas of focus, namely political affairs, economic, social, and cultural affairs, legal affairs, and administration, PAP is expected to help the continent find lasting solutions to challenges it faces.
Based in Midrand, South Africa, PAP members are elected by the parliaments of the member states of the African Union. The PAP plays a key role in promoting peace, security, and good governance in Africa, and it also provides a forum for the discussion of issues affecting the continent.
PAP is made up of five organs: the plenary assembly, the bureau, the committee of ministers, the committee of rapporteurs, and the secretariat.
The plenary assembly is the main decision-making body of the PAP, and it consists of all members of the parliament. The bureau is the executive arm of the PAP, and it consists of a president, a first vice-president, and four vice-presidents.
The committee of ministers consists of one minister from each member state, and it oversees the implementation of the PAP’s decisions.
The committee of rapporteurs prepares reports and recommendations for the plenary assembly, and the secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the PAP.
