THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT: PROPOSAL ON THE UNION GOVERNMENT OF AFRICA

DRAFT REPORT

April 18, 2007

Members of the Task Force
Prof. Shadrack Gutto (Chair)
Dr. Monica Juma
Dr. John Tesha
Dr. M.E. Mohamed Salih
Hon. Halifa Sallah
Mr. Prince Mashele



Secretariat of the Task Force
Mr. Daniel Ogana
Ms Dren Nupen



The Secretariat of the PAP
Mr. Murumba Werunga – Clerk of the PAP
Dr. S.E.Mbozo’o –Deputy Clerk of the PAP: Legislative Business
Mr. Galal Nassir Ahmed – Senior Clerk: Legislative Business
Mrs. Marie Christiane Bebey: Bilingual Secretary

ACRONYMS


ACT The Constitutive Act of the African Union
ACJ/HR (African) Court of justice and Human Rights
AEC African Economic Community
APRM African Peer Review Mechanism
AU The African Union
AUG African Union Government
CSSDCA Conference on Security, Stability and Development Cooperation in Africa
Commission The Secretariat of the African union
ECOSOC The Economic, social and Cultural Council
FIs Financial Institutions
MDGs Millennium development Goals
Member State A Member State of the African Union
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development
OAU Organization of the African Unity
PAP The Pan-African Parliament
Parliament The Pan-African Parliament
Protocol The Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community
RECs Regional Economic Communities
RPB Regional Parliamentary Bodies
STC Specialized Technical Committees
UGA Union Government of Africa
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development




Table of Contents

Acronyms
Executive Summary

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Mandate
1.2 Objective
1.3 The Challenge
1.4 Context

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 The Quest for African Unity
2.2 Institutional Evolution

3. REFLECTIONS ON THE BANJUL STUDY
3.1 On Values
3.2 On strategic Areas of Focus
3.3. On Institutional and Programmatic Institutions
The Assembly
The Commission
Pan-African Parliament
The Economic Social and Cultural Council
The Constitutive Act
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development
3.4 The Road Map
3.5 Critical Areas of Consideration
The Naming of the Union Government
Structure of the Union Government

4. FAST TRACKING THE BUILDING BLOCKS
4.1 PAP in the Union Government
4.2 African Court of Justice and Human Rights
4.3 Peace and Security Council
4.4 The Financial Institutions
4.5 Economic Social and Cultural Council
4.6 Specialised Technical Committees
4.7 Regional Economic Communities

5. PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT IN THE UNION GOVERNMENT
5.1 Relationships between PAP and AU Organs and Institutions
5.2 Enhancing the capacity of the PAP
5.3 PAP Competencies
Legislative
Oversight
5.4 Direct Elections
5.5 Relationship between PAP, RPBs and National Parliaments

6. TOWARDS A FUNCTIONING UNION GOVERNMENT
6.1 Decision-making
6.2 Financing
6.3 Political Will

7. THE UNION GOVERNMENT AND THE WORLD
8. CONCLUSION
9. RECOMMENDATIONS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In response to a request made by the Chairperson of the African Union, during the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa from 29th to 30th January 2007, for the Pan-African Parliament to make an input to the Grand Debate on the Union Government of Africa, the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament, in developing a PAP position, constituted a Task Force comprising distinguished African experts to assist in the process.

The Task Force submitted its Report to the Bureau on April 18, 2007. The Bureau forwarded the Report to the Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution for review. The Committee laid the Report before Parliament for consideration and adoption at the Seventh Ordinary Session.

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