(Parliament News): June 28, 2022; Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the FDRE, Honourable Lomi Bedo; is taking part in the ordinary session of the Fifth Pan-African Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker and other members of the delegation are believed to address the Ethiopian side on the topics of the agendas of the session, in Midrand, South Africa; where the session is assumed.

Representing H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and incumbent Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat; Chairperson of the African Union Commission presided over the proceedings of the opening ceremony of the Ordinary Session of the fifth Parliament and addressed the Parliament with opening speech.

The exceptional measure is due to the absence of the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and is guided by Article 14 (1) of the PAP Protocol, which stipulates that the Plenary Session of the Parliament shall be run by the Chairperson of the Union until the election of the President of the Parliament who shall thereafter preside.

Swearing-in of new members of the Pan-African Parliament was conducted during the opening ceremony of the Ordinary Session, which was chaired by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The new Parliamentarians originate from different countries and regions of the continent following elections in a number of African States and rotation within delegations. The Parliament is composed of five members per member state that has ratified the Protocol establishing it, including at least one woman per delegation. These members are selected by their national legislatures.

Close to 72 Parliamentarians were sensitized on the PAP’s rules of procedure, functions of the PAP, structure of the institution, and their role as representatives of the African citizens.

The main business on the agenda of the upcoming Session is the election of the new Bureau of the PAP, slated for 29 June 2022.

The leadership of other structures of Parliament, including Permanent Committees and regional and thematic caucuses will also be renewed during the Session.

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security are expected to attend the upcoming election of the PAP Bureau Members. The electoral process will be conducted and managed by the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union.

The six days long session of the ongoing Pan-African Parliament (From 27 June to 02 July 2022) is going to cover various topics that are believed vital to all citizens of Africa, according to the info learnt from different sources.

By Asrat Addisu