The African Union has urged MPs of the continental legislature-Pan African Parliament [PAP] to join the search for more resources to go towards supporting the Peace and Security initiatives.
According to AU commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security-H.E Amb. Bankole Adewoye, the ongoing global geodynamics are likely to have a negative impact on the AU’s resources especially in the area of peace and security.
“Financing has been one of the weakest issues in the African Union system when it comes to peace and security. We need the voice of the Pan African Parliament to join the search for more resources for our peace endeavors. Our resources will be dwindling because of the global geodynamics” H.E Amb. Bankole told the Joint Consultative meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council led by Uganda’s Amb. Rebecca Amuge Otengo [Chair of the month of July] and the Pan African Parliament chaired by H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira, the PAP president.
Bankole expressed concern that Africa continues to be awash with conflicts, describing this as a regrettable situation. He however, said the African Union including all its organs and institutions continue to work and respond to this situation.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s ambassador to Ethiopia also Permanent Representative to the AU and currently the Chair of the AU peace and Security Council [AUPSC], Rebecca Amuge Otengo, applauded the PAP’s activities in the area of peace and security. She cited activities like conduct of fact finding missions in addition to participating in election observation missions.
Otengo noted that such activities are closely interrelated with the work of AUPSC.
“So we will depend on you so highly to make sure that what we discuss is put before the different parliaments. We’re speaking of 55 parliaments in the continent that are represented by you MPs of Pan African Parliament” she said.
Otengo went on ‘we pledge to continue to work together as the African Union Peace and Security Council and other organs to ensure that all that can be done by the two organs to make Africa better will be done’
In another development, the PAP President Charumbira emphasized the importance of putting in place a PAP commission, noting that without it, PAP is incomplete.
He added that any effort to try to resolve conflicts for example which excludes citizens is unsustainable.
“Peace and Security becomes elusive, becomes a mirage if it does not involve its citizens through parliamentary mechanisms” he said.
