Pan-African Parliament delegation visits Dakar to advocate for AU instrument ratification

The West African regional group of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is conducting an advocacy mission in Dakar from September 28 to October 1, 2026. Led by regional group president Honorable Lazare Yao Yao, the delegation includes parliamentarians from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

The mission aims to accelerate the ratification of several African Union (AU) instruments. A primary focus is the Revised Protocol relating to the Pan-African Parliament, which, if ratified, would allow the institution to evolve into a body with legislative powers.

Other key areas of advocacy include the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, protocols regarding the free movement of persons, rights of persons with disabilities, and the eradication of statelessness. The delegation is also promoting protocols related to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), specifically concerning investment, digital trade, and the participation of women and youth in commerce.