Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira, defended on Monday in Luanda a strengthened cooperation with international counterparts and deeper integration among African parliaments.
Speaking to the press, after a courtesy meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Adão de Almeida, Charumbira spoke of the inclusion of citizens, especially women and young people as essential tool for the advancement of parliamentary diplomacy and free movement on the continent.
The African parliamentary leader, who is in Luanda to participate in the 7th African Union – European Union Summit, underlined the importance of a “symbiotic” relationship between African parliaments, especially with regard to diplomacy in conflict resolution.
He added that facing the challenges of the continent requires the active participation of citizens, with an emphasis on the inclusion of women and young people in decision-making processes.
The diplomat recalled that Parliament “cannot remain merely an observer,” and must assume a more dynamic role to ensure its own development and maintain itself as a true platform for popular representation.
Regarding mobility on the continent, Fortune Charumbira considered the issue central, at a time when Africa is moving towards the free movement of people, underlining that the continent faces three major population flows, and the institution intends to work to mitigate the obstacles related to visas and mobility.
According to the Parliamentarian, the African Union has introduced the African passport, inspired by the European model. However, he noted that the document is currently only available to diplomats.
He assured that the institution is aware of the current limitations and is committed to acting to facilitate visa acquisition, making travel between African countries simpler and more accessible to ordinary citizens.
The diplomat emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure that “Africans can travel within the continent without unnecessary barriers,” promoting greater integration and creating more opportunities throughout the region.
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