5 - The Pan-African Parliament

Summary

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) had been part of a stalled series of proposed reforms to accelerate the African Economic Community since 1991. However, it passed as one of the ‘twin’ goals in establishing the AU, but its powers were relegated to a minor part of the AU. Explaining both its sudden adoption after years of going nowhere, and its eventual functions as a mere advisory body rather than continental legislature as originally envisaged, necessitates diving into the norm circles that first proposed and then turned against it, as well as its role in Gaddafi’s vision of uniting Africa. Where it landed was a function of the respective competencies of these norm circles, ending largely in a stalemate.