The President of Morocco’s Lower House, Rachid Talbi El Alami, participated in the “Second Annual Conference of African Presidents of Parliament,” held from September 18 to 20, at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) headquarters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The conference coincides with the September session of the Pan-African Legislative Institution, which includes meetings of its permanent committees among others.
This year’s agenda centers on the African Union’s (AU) theme for 2024: “Educate an African fit for the 21st century: building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa,” Morocco’s Press Agency reported (MAP).
The conference agenda includes discussions on several themes, including peace and security in Africa and its impact on continental integration and economic development, the status of integration in ECOWAS, and the challenges of unconstitutional governmental changes in the region. Furthermore, they will discuss “progress, challenges, and the way forward for agenda 2063,” and “Progress in the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
African parliamentary presidents will also address the impact of climate change on the continent and its strategic goals ahead of COP29. In addition to, the AU’s institutional reforms, strengthening cooperation between PAP and national parliaments, and food insecurity across Africa.
The Moroccan delegation at the conference includes Talbi El Alami who is scheduled to deliver a speech. As well as Laila Dahi; from the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Khadija Arouhal; from the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Abdessamad Haiker; from the Justice and Development Party (PJD), and Hanaa Benkhair; from the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM).
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), established under Article 5 of the AU’s Constitutive Act and formally inaugurated on March 18, 2004, serves as a consultative body for the African Union.
Each AU member state delegates five parliamentarians, including at least one woman, representing both majority and opposition parties.