20 nations endorse African Charter

The Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference concluded in Accra on Friday, with 20 African nations endorsing a draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values. However, South Africa and Mozambique opted not to adopt the charter at this time.

The draft charter seeks to create a continental legal and moral framework designed to safeguard traditional African social norms, religious beliefs, and national sovereignty against what organizers describe as foreign ideologies. The conference brought together parliamentarians, political leaders, traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, and civil society representatives from across the continent.

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the provisions are inconsistent with Chapter 2 of its Constitution, which contains the Bill of Rights. It added that the provisions also do not align with the country’s regional and international legal obligations.

South Africa's delegation, led by Zandile Majozi, explained that while the country respects the charter's objectives, certain provisions conflict with its Constitution's Bill of Rights and its regional and international legal obligations. Mozambique, in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, cited logistical challenges and legislative schedule constraints. Mozambique emphasized that the charter's sensitive issues require prior consultations and public sensitization before a final decision can be made.

Participants expressed concern over perceived threats to the African family, national sovereignty, and societal values. They reaffirmed their commitment to the meeting's resolutions. The conference focused on building parliamentary consensus and adopted 12 key recommendations, including proposals for the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) to formally adopt the charter's activities and establish a COSPAL Committee on Family, Sovereignty and Values.

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the significance and sensitivity of the issues raised in the charter required prior consultations, public sensitisation and joint review involving Parliament, government and other relevant national authorities before a final decision could be taken.