“Guns are Refusing to be Silenced”: Pan-African Parliament Confronts Coups, Climate Catastrophe, and Internal Crisis

In a compelling opening to the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), President H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira delivered an address that captured the continent at a crossroads. Africa faces climate disasters, military coups, and the institution itself, an  internal financial and staffing problem which has evolved into an existential crisis.

Honoring Africa’s Giants

The session began with tributes to two of Africa’s recent luminaries: the late former Prime Minister of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, and former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Their legacies of service were celebrated, and condolences extended to Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, a sitting PAP member, in her time of bereavement.

The mood then shifted as President Charumbira highlighted recent disasters. He cited the landslide in western Kenya’s Elgeyo Marakwet County that killed over 26 people, and Hurricane Melissa, a record-breaking Category 5 storm that devastated Jamaica and Haiti. “Images from Jamaica show buildings reduced to rubble, debris scattered across streets, and whole neighborhoods submerged,” H.E. Chief Charumbira reported. He linked these catastrophes to the global climate crisis, noting that warmer seas are fueling more intense storms and extreme rainfall.

Africa’s Unified Call at COP30
He outlined Africa’s non-negotiable demands for COP30 in Belem, Brazil:

• Climate Finance: Moving from pledges to predictable, accessible funding.

• Loss and Damage: Establishing mechanisms for compensation for irreversible climate impacts.

• Just Energy Transition: Developing an African-led green industrialization path using the continent’s renewable resources and critical minerals.

Coups and the Crisis of Democracy

Shifting to political emergencies, President Charumbira addressed what he called a “coup within coups.” “We committed to silencing the guns, yet the recent military coup in Madagascar shows they refuse to be silenced,” he said.

He challenged the Parliament itself: “Where is the AU? Where is PAP?” He raised questions about democratic legitimacy: “In a country with an active Parliament, why are people seemingly supporting military takeovers?” The session will host a dedicated hearing with the University of Pretoria to examine the impact of military coups on constitutionalism and democracy in Africa.

Praising Leadership and Reaffirming PAP’s Mission

President Charumbira praised South Africa for its consultative approach during its G20 Presidency, highlighting African priorities such as debt relief and fair trade, and noting the AU’s historic inclusion as a permanent G20 member—a milestone toward a more representative global order.

He also reaffirmed PAP’s purpose, recalling that it was created 41 years after the OAU to provide the AU with democratic legitimacy. Without the PAP, he emphasized, the Union risks being a body of states rather than a Union of African citizens. The Parliament serves as a watchdog to hold the AU’s executive organs accountable.

A Busy Legislative and Diplomatic Agenda

Despite funding challenges, the session’s agenda remains ambitious:

• 5th APRM Youth Symposium to amplify youth voices in policymaking.

• Beijing +30 Conference to assess progress on gender equality and promote women in leadership.

• Joint Summit with the European Parliament to draft a declaration for the AU-EU Heads of State Summit in Luanda.

• Third PAP-CSO Dialogue to strengthen collaboration with civil society as the “conscience of society.”

• Advancing Model Laws on Labour Migration, African Human Rights decisions, and the Right to Nationality, with future drafts on Gender Equality, AI, and Cybersecurity in development.

A Parliament in Peril

President Charumbira revealed stark realities: the session was allocated $358,000, far below the required $1.3 million. “Our choice was either to postpone or make the most of what we have,” he said. Many activities rely on external funding.

The Parliament also faces unpaid MP allowances, violating the PAP Protocol and causing frustration among members. Staffing shortages are severe, with impending retirements and an AU hiring freeze leaving vacancies above 37%, including critical positions such as Head of Finance and Head of Human Resources.

A Plea for Perspective

Concluding his address, President Charumbira urged members to focus on the broader mission of the PAP. “Whatever we do here is not for self-interest but for the people whose sacred mandate we represent,” he said, calling for unwavering commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Africa.