The Pan-African Parliament

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the progress and challenges of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) during its first term (2004–2009). The author argues that the PAP is an institutionally weak body due to its premature establishment, which bypassed the gradual integration stages outlined in the 1991 Abuja Treaty. Consequently, the PAP lacks legislative, budgetary, and supervisory powers, operating only as a consultative and advisory body with limited influence over the African Union (AU) executive.

• The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) currently lacks the three fundamental powers—legislative, supervisory, and budgetary—that are characteristic of effective parliaments, such as national legislatures or the European Parliament.
• The PAP was established prematurely because African leaders decided to accelerate the implementation of the Abuja Treaty via the 1999 Sirte Declaration, effectively abandoning the gradual six-stage process. This resulted in a 'grand continental structure' being created without the necessary foundational integration, such as the coordination of Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
• There is a significant disconnect between the PAP's intended role and its actual influence within the African Union (AU). Its resolutions and recommendations are frequently ignored by the AU executive, and there is no record of AU officials appearing before PAP committees or submitting reports despite protocol requirements.
• The PAP's oversight capacity is severely limited by its lack of financial independence. The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government maintains total control over the AU budget, including the PAP's budget, which prevents the PAP from independently planning work or conducting oversight visits.
• The PAP's legitimacy and independence are hampered by its membership selection process. Members are nominated from national legislatures rather than being directly elected by citizens via universal suffrage, leading to concerns that members owe allegiance to the executives who appointed them.
• Despite its structural weaknesses, the PAP has attempted to engage with continental crises through observer missions to regions including Darfur in Sudan (2004), Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.

APA

Hugo, G. (2008). The Pan-African Parliament. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper168.pdf

Chicago

Hugo, Gerhard. The Pan-African Parliament. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper168.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hugo |first1=Gerhard |title=The Pan-African Parliament |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=September 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper168.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hugo2008panafrican, author = {Hugo, Gerhard}, title = {{The Pan-African Parliament}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper168.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }