The PAP has 255 members representing the 55 AU member states that ratified the Protocol establishing it. There are five representatives for each country, who must include at least one woman and reflect the diversity of political representation in the national Parliament.

Rwanda’s five representatives are Senators Jacqueline Muhongayire and Jean Népomuscène Sindikubwabo, as well as three members of the Chamber of Deputies; MPs Ignatienne Nyirarukundo, Mediatrice Izabiliza and Fidele Rwigamba.

Currently, PAP members are designated by the legislatures of their member states as they are not directly elected by the people.

PAP held its inaugural session in March 2004 for a five-year mandate.

The seat of the Pan-African Parliament was initially in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia but was later moved to Midrand, South Africa.

The Parliament holds two ordinary sessions (May and October) in a year.

Its Rules of procedure provide for the sittings to be held at its seat or at such other venue as may be determined by the Bureau upon invitation by any of the member states.

Egypt became the first country to host a session of the PAP in October 2016, and Rwanda is now the second member state to host a session of the Parliament.

Members of the Bureau

The Bureau is the leadership group of the Parliament and consists of the President and four Vice-Presidents.

Each member of the Bureau represents a different region of Africa.

The current Bureau comprises the President, Roger Nkodo Dang from Cameroon, representing Central Africa; the First Vice-President, Stephen Julius Masele from Tanzania, representing East Africa; the Second Vice-President, Haidara Haïchata from Mali, representing West Africa; the Third Vice-President, Bouras Djamel from Algeria, representing Northern Africa; and the Fourth Vice-President, Charumbira, representing Southern Africa.

Agencies