Strengthening West and East African Parliamentary Cooperation

By Our Reporter 

Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has officially concluded a successful three-day working visit to the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania!

Hosted by EALA Speaker Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana and EALA Clerk Mr. Alex Obatre, the high-level ECOWAS delegation engaged in vital consultations across key EAC institutions, including the EAC Secretariat, the East African Court of Justice, the African Court, and the Pan African Postal Union.

 

A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of a joint Concept Note proposing the creation of a Network of Regional and Supranational Parliamentary Institutions. Operating within frameworks like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), this initiative aims to strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy and institutional collaboration across regions.

 

Key Focus Areas of the Proposed Network:

 

 Institutional Cooperation: Enhancing knowledge-sharing on legislation, digital transformation, and governance among regional bodies like EALA, ECOWAS Parliament, PAP, and the European Parliament.

 A Unified Global Voice: Coordinating joint regional positions in global multilateral forums.

 Action on Global Challenges: Addressing critical issues such as climate change, regional economic integration, migration, peace, and security.

 Rotational Leadership: Adopting a governance model with rotational leadership and biannual sessions.

This landmark visit highlights a powerful shared commitment to deepening ties between West and East Africa and amplifying regional voices on the global stage