dyton mupawaenda
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
The president of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, has called for harmonised efforts by the African Union and other stakeholders to end the conflict in Sudan.
Speaking at the Political Meeting of the AGA-APSA Platform in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, Chief Charumbira criticised stakeholders’ fragmented efforts and said this is hindering efforts to resolve the crisis.
The meeting was held under the theme ‘Sudan’s costly war towards a peaceful resolution: How can relevant AU organs/institutions/RECs/RMs improve coordinated intervention’.
Chief Charumbira’s call came soon after Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) Heads of State met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a joint summit focused on ending the conflict in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
At the summit, President Mnangagwa, who is also the SADC chairperson, emphasised that Africa must draw upon its shared history of solidarity and unity—the same unity that dismantled colonialism—to free the people of the DRC from the conflicts that are undermining development.
President Mnangagwa stressed that Africa should not fail the people of the DRC and must find a solution to silence the guns and create lasting peace in the Great Lakes region through dialogue.
“Our efforts need to be coordinated through a structured governance framework if they are to bring meaningful results,” said Chief Charumbira.
Highlighting the lack of success in various intervention efforts in Sudan and other conflict zones on the continent, Chief Charumbira said external interference is a major obstacle to conflict resolution.
He also pointed out that the PAP is being sidelined in peacekeeping efforts, and yet Article 3(5) of the PAP Protocol enjoins it to promote peace, security and stability on the continent.
“Despite being left out of these interventions, PAP had given a platform to Sudanese people to express themselves on the current crisis, including Sudanese refugees resident in South Africa who have been displaced by the conflict,” he said.
He further said the Pan-African Parliament could play an instrumental role in conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts on the continent through parliamentary diplomacy.
Chief Charumbira went on to call on the African Union Commission to include all relevant organs in intervention efforts.
The PAP president is leading the Bureau of the Pan African Parliament in attending pre-session meetings ahead of the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, scheduled for February 12th to 13th; and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, set for February 15th to 16th, 2025.
The 38th African Union Summit will focus on reparatory justice and racial healing under the theme ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.’
Senior leadership elections will also be a key highlight at the summit.
Online Reporter