Parliament yesterday gave a nod to the ratification of the African Union protocol on prevention and combating of terrorism which was adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2004. The protocol sets out obligations of states in respect to defining international counterterrorism offences, prosecuting individuals suspected of such offences, extraditing such persons upon request, and providing mutual legal assistance. Presenting the bill before the House, the vice chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jacqueline Mukakanyamugenge, said that although the protocol was being discussed now, the country has put in place several initiatives to curb terrorism. After her presentation, Members of Parliament unanimously passed the bill. Meanwhile, the House on Wednesday also endorsed the ratification of the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The charter was adopted by the eighth summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in 2007. The Charter seeks to entrench a political culture of change of power by holding regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies. The bill was also tabled by Mukakanyamugenge in the presence of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Musa Fazil Harerimana. Rwanda is the third country to ratify the treaty. Ends
