The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) commends the intervention of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the other policy organs of the AU in working assiduously and
harmoniously to ensure that the misunderstanding that led to disruption of proceedings at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament of the PanAfrican Parliament (PAP) were resolved in line with the established African Union values, rules, and regulations. APPN recalls that the May election Session of PAP ended in chaos and/ or disorder, due to disagreement among some regions on the application of the principle of rotation in the election of the Parliament’s president. APPN commends the AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat for setting up the fact-finding delegation that visited the PAP Secretariat and submitted a progress report with far-reaching recommendations. The report
of the delegation formed the basis for the decisions and recommendations of the policy organs.
The various interventions culminated in the decision of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
that only region that has not had the opportunity to lead the Parliament would be eligible to present candidates at the resumed bureau election to be
conducted and managed by the Office of Legal Counsel. APPN urges the Parliamentarians to accept the resolution of the issue in good
faith and henceforth focus on issues that promote a united Africa instead of dwelling on issues that tended to divide us. These include the manufacturing of COVID-19 Vaccines and related drugs in Africa, challenges of youth unemployment, under-development, poverty, insecurity, and promoting participatory democracy. The APPN takes this opportunity to call on all national Parliaments that are
yet to ratify the Malabo Protocol to do so to give the Pan-African Parliament the needed legislative powers.
The APPN assures the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), and the PAP of its unflinching support and collaboration in providing publicity and education for all African citizens on the Continent on the activities of PAP to make it very relevant to them.

About APPN
The African Parliamentary Press Network is a Network of African
journalists and information officers reporting from regional, sub-regional and
National Parliaments in Africa. APPN promotes parliamentary openness and
cordial working relationship between Parliaments and the media and believes
that a well mobilized and resourced press corps or galleries in all African
parliaments will set the stage for the work of African Parliaments, including
the Pan-African Parliament, to be made visible to the people of Africa.

Signed
Hon. Oluchukkwu Ibekwe                      Hon. Gilbert Borketey Boyefio
Steering Committee                               Chair Coordinator
African Parliamentary Press Network    APPN Secretariat
+2348034077681                                  +233243915206