Role and mandate

The functions and powers of the Parliament are defined in Article 11 of the Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to the Pan-African Parliament. Under that Article the Parliament may:

• Examine, discuss or express an opinion on any matter, on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or another policy organ, and make any recommendation it deems fit — among other things on respect for human rights, the consolidation of democratic institutions and the culture of democracy, and the promotion of good governance and the rule of law.
• Discuss its own budget and the budget of the Community, and make recommendations on them before the Assembly approves them.
• Work towards the harmonisation or coordination of the laws of the Member States.
• Make recommendations aimed at the attainment of the objectives of the Union, and draw attention to the challenges facing the integration process in Africa and to the strategies for dealing with them.
• Promote the programmes and objectives of the Union in the constituencies of the Member States.
• Promote the coordination and harmonisation of the policies, measures, programmes and activities of the Regional Economic Communities and the parliamentary fora of Africa.
• Adopt its own Rules of Procedure, elect its own President, and propose to the Council and the Assembly the size and nature of its support staff.

The Pan-African Parliament was established to provide a common platform for the peoples of Africa and their grass-roots organisations to be more involved in the discussion of, and the decisions on, the problems and challenges facing the continent. Its members represent all the peoples of Africa, not the governments that sent them.

The aim set out for it is to evolve into an institution with full legislative powers, whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage. It has not yet reached that point.

• Give a voice to the African peoples and the Diaspora.
• Facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African Union.
• Promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa.
• Encourage good governance, transparency and accountability in Member States.
• Familiarise the peoples of Africa with the aims and objectives of continental integration.
• Promote peace, security and stability.
• Contribute to a more prosperous future by promoting collective self-reliance and economic recovery.
• Facilitate cooperation among the Regional Economic Communities and their parliamentary fora.
• Encourage national and regional parliaments to ratify and integrate African Union treaties.
• Cooperate with the parliaments of Member States, with civil society and with community organisations.

The Parliament examines, discusses and makes recommendations to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. It does not legislate, and its recommendations do not bind a Member State. Every function listed above is consultative or advisory, and that is a matter of the Protocol rather than of practice.

Conferring legislative power is what the Malabo Protocol would do. Until it enters into force, the Parliament’s influence rests on the quality of its scrutiny, the standing of its members in their own national legislatures, and the willingness of the policy organs to act on what it recommends.