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PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
‫البرلمان األفريقي‬
PARLEMENT PANAFRICAIN
PARLAMENTO PAN-AFRICANO
Gallagher Convention Centre, Private Bag X16, Midrand 1685, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
Tel: (+27) 11 545 5000 - Fax: (+27) 11 545 5136 – Web site: www.pan-african-parliament.org
OPENING ADDRESS BY H.E. HON. BETHEL NNAEMEKA
AMADI, PRESIDENT OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SIXTH ORDINARY
SESSION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF THE PAN AFRICAN
PARLIAMENT ON 18TH MAY, 2015
IN MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA
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PROTOCOL
On behalf of the Bureau of the Pan African
Parliament, I have great pleasure in welcoming you
all to the opening of the 6th Ordinary Session of the
Third Parliament of the Pan African Parliament
and I thank the Almighty God for Journey Mercies
granted to all of us.
Your Excellencies, Honourable Colleagues, this
session is a very special one for the Pan African
Parliament and indeed for me. It is not only the
last session that I will preside as President, it also
comes at a time when our continent is confronted
with
a
myriad
of
political
and
institutional
challenges that could potentially define the nature
of the future of our continent. Issues of continental
integration, youth employment and empowerment,
economic development and the peace and security
of our continent are just but a few of the
difficulties that we must proffer solutions to.
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The Pan African Parliament once again strongly
condemns the reoccurrence of xenophobic attacks
against fellow Africans citizens living in South
Africa. This criminal violence which erupted in
various localities in South Africa has resulted in
the death of many innocent African citizens.
These attacks and killings contradict the spirit of
Ubuntu, Pan Africanism and African Renaissance.
The xenophobic attacks are clear manifestation
that the dream of African Unity remains elusive
and
if
allowed
undermine
the
to
continue
many
years
of
unabated
will
struggle
and
sacrifices made by the founding fathers of our
union for continental integration, solidarity and
unity.
As former President Thabo Mbeki noted in his
speech: “With Heads bowed in Shame” in 2008:
“Regardless of the boundaries drawn by others to
define us as different and separate from our kith
and kin, and even despite our occupation of
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different spaces across the divides occasioned by
the existence of the oceans that nature has
formed, we share with those of whom we are part,
a common destiny”.
The Pan African Parliament therefore calls upon
the Government and Peoples of South Africa to
ensure the protection of lives and properties of all
African Citizens residing in South Africa and
ensure that all those responsible for inciting
and/or perpetrating these criminal activities are
made to face the full wrath of the law.
The current migration situation in Europe is an
unpleasant testimony of the resultant effect of
poor governance in our continent. The continued
and avoidable death of African migrants while
attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into
Europe remains a grave concern for the Pan
African Parliament. Current reports indicate that
about 1200 migrants have died in the month of
April
2015
while
attempting
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to
cross
the
Mediterranean Sea into Europe. This unfortunate
situation cannot be allowed to continue where our
young men and women risk lives and limb in
search of greener pastures.
The Pan African Parliament therefore calls on all
AU member governments to develop a continental
response to the problem of youth unemployment
and sensitize our youths on the risk of illegal
migration. Our leaders must also develop policies
that
curb
poverty
and
ensure
an
equitable
utilization and distribution of national income for
the benefit of all citizens.
The
Pan
African
Parliament
recognizes
that
migration represents one of the critical issues
threatening our continental peace and security
and further calls on Members States of the
European Union to ease stringent immigration
policies and put in place a humane and tangible
institutional framework that allows clear support
for lawful migration.
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May I at this juncture, crave your indulgence
for a one minute moment of silence in honour
of the victims of recent xenophobic attacks and
migrants drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.
Your
Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies
and
Gentlemen, Africa continues to face a diversity of
challenges including conflicts in Libya, Somalia,
Central African Republic, South Sudan, Congo
DRC and conventional security issues such as
insurgencies and violent extremism in Nigeria and
Kenya.
The crisis in Burundi is rather unfortunate in the
light of hard won and sustained peace after a
protracted
civil
war.
We
urge
leaders
and
stakeholders to engage in a genuine dialogue and
consensus that will lead to peace and stability. We
reiterate the call of the AU on the need for all
Burundian’s to work within the framework of the
Burundi’s constitution and in the spirit of the
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Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement and to
accept the recommendations of the EAC Summit,
respect fundamental human rights and end all
acts of violence and intimidation.
It is in recognition of the share urgency of
embracing the youth agenda, youth employment
and youth empowerment in governance that we at
the Pan African Parliament in collaboration with
the African Union, decided to inculcate a Pan
African
Youth
Parliament
Intergenerational
Dialogue as an integral part of our session.
In the same vein and in the spirit of Pan
Africanism,
the
Pan
African
Parliament
will
commemorate and celebrate “African Day” on 25th
May, 2015. This event affords us a unique
opportunity,
particularly
necessary
as
representatives of the citizens of Africa to come
together to promote Pan Africanism, continental
integration, peace and unity. Various leaders all
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over Africa have been invited to join us in our
celebration of this day.
The Bureau of the 3rd Parliament has enjoyed the
support of this honourable house and despite our
limited mandate we have been to accomplish
significant milestone in the transformation of the
political and legislative capability of this institution
and most notably with regard to the adoption of
the revised protocol of the Pan African Parliament
by
the
Assembly
of
Heads
of
State
and
Government in June 2014 at Malabo, Equatorial
Guinea. I encourage all of us to join hands in
consolidating the gains of this 3rd Parliament while
forging
ahead
determination
with
to
vigour
ensure
full
and
robust
and
speedy
ratification and domestication of our amended
protocol so that we can begin to take advantage of
our enhanced mandate to achieve greater result.
This will be the challenge that I hope the new
leadership that we will elect at the end of this
session including Bureau and Chairs of the
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respective Committees and Regional Caucuses will
embrace as a matter of institutional priority and
urgency.
I once again welcome you to the 6th Session and
solicit your usual cooperation and support as we
debate on a variety of issues critical to our
continental
sustainability
and
development.
I
thank you for coming and on this note, I hereby
declare open, the Sixth Ordinary Session of the
Third Parliament.
One Voice! One Africa!!
One Africa, One Voice!
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