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The Pan African Parliament (PAP) President, HE Chief Fortune Charumbira, officially opened the National Assembly of Benin on 10 April 2025 in Porto Novo, Benin.
He thanked the Speaker of the National Assembly of Benin, Hon. Gbehounou Louis Vlavonou, for extending an invitation to him to officially open the Session of the National Assembly of Benin which is a reflection of the high premium that the National Assembly of Benin places on the Pan African Parliament as the supreme continental representative institution.
“Hon. Speaker Sir, I must state that it cannot be a coincidence that I was invited to officially open the session of the National Assembly of Benin in 2025 when the African Union is running with the Theme of the Year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.
“It cannot be a coincidence that as Head of an African Union Organ that is going to play a pivotal role in advocacy for reparations for colonialism, apartheid, and the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, I found myself in one of the countries that were the epicentre of the slave trade,” Chief Charumbira said.
Chief Charumbira said the northern region of Benin was referred to as the Slave Coast of West Africa from the early 17th century due to the high number of people who were sold and trafficked during the Atlantic slave trade to the New World. He said the kings of the then Dahomey sold their war captives into transatlantic slavery to the extent that by about 1750, the King of Dahomey was earning an estimated £250,000 per year by selling African captives to European slave traders.
There is a spiritual connection between the city of Porto Novo to the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in the sense that the name itself, Porto-Novo, meaning “New Port” in Portuguese, was originally developed as a port for the slave trade. The impact and tensions of the slave trade are still very much evident in Benin today in the physical remnants of the historical slave ports and coastal forts.
“The Theme of the Year is in line with the April 1993 Abuja Declaration on Reparations, which recognised that “there is a unique and unprecedented moral debt owed to the peoples of Africa that have not yet been paid – the debt of compensation owed to Africans as the most humiliated and exploited people of the last four centuries of modern history.” The theme is particularly appropriate given the gravity of the historical injustices perpetrated against Africans and people of African descent through slavery, apartheid and colonization.
“Hon. Speaker Sir, the fight for reparations is a call for economic justice, truth, and reparations which recognises the systemic inequities, economic, social, and structural injustices occasioned by historical injustices perpetuated for over 300 years by Europeans on Africans and Caribbeans,” Chief Charumbira said.
To that end, the Pan-African President said Benin must, therefore, be one of the countries at the forefront of the fight for reparatory justice given the direct impact of slavery and its vices on this country and its people. He urged the Members of the Benin PAP delegation, given the country’s history, to be at the centre of debate and advocacy for the AU Theme of the Year as they can speak from an informed, experiential, and passionate position.
“In addition to that, the National Assembly of Benin must play its part in driving the attainment of the continental developmental blueprint, Agenda 2063, and other AU Flagship Projects if the dream of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena” is to ever be attained. The Flagship Projects intended to accelerate the integrated development of the continent include the Integrated High-Speed Train Network, the formulation of an African Commodities Strategy, the implementation of the Grand Inga Dam Project, and the establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market and the Great African Museum.
“The challenge, however, remains with the implementation of the commitments made by African Member States towards the actualization of Agenda 2063 and the Flagship Projects. It is imperative, therefore, that national Parliaments working in collaboration with the Pan African Parliament use their oversight powers to hold the Executive to account on the implementation of commitments made at the regional and continental level if such initiatives as Agenda 2063 are to bear tangible fruits.”
Chief Charumbira added that Members of Parliament, as opinion leaders and representatives of the people, are strategically positioned to articulate critically important economic priorities that reflect current socio-economic realities in their respective constituencies, foster human capital development, and highlight methods of creating additional incentives for investment as a catalyst for economic growth and poverty reduction.
“On that basis, I contend that if properly consulted, capacitated, and co-ordinated to oversee the implementation of Agenda 2063 at the national, regional, and continental levels, Parliamentarians can develop stronger frameworks for enhancing the impact of Agenda 2063, identify mechanisms to ensure that the development principles envisaged in the development blueprint are people-centered, reflect national and continental priorities, and are inculcated in National Development Plans. That is the role that the National Assembly of Benin must play and the PAP is ready and willing to work with you in this regard,” he said.
The PAP President said to galvanise Africa’s accelerated economic growth agenda, the focus of the African Union and all its Organs is on the ratification and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to create a single market for the continent. The aim is to enable the free flow of goods and services across the continent and boost the trading position of Africa in the global market.
As part of its mandate, the AfCFTA seeks to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade. In particular, it aims to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African Economy. The AfCFTA will contribute to establishing regional value chains in Africa, enabling investment and job creation. The practical implementation of the AfCFTA has the potential to foster industrialisation, job creation, and investment, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Africa in the medium to long term. The envisaged single continental market is expected to increase intra-African trade by 52.3 percent and the World Bank estimates that the AfCFTA will increase Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and increase intra-African exports by more than 81 percent.
Chief Charumbira said food and energy insecurity remain pressing challenges on the continent. Despite Africa’s vast natural resources, millions still face hunger and lack reliable energy access. He added that Parliaments must lead in promoting policies that enhance food production and energy self-sufficiency. By investing in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, Africa can address the root causes of poverty and underdevelopment.
He added that Africa must be at the forefront of international climate negotiations, advocating for fair and equitable solutions that recognize the disproportionate impact of climate change on our continent.
On the other hand, ensuring equitable access to healthcare and vaccines is essential for safeguarding public health and preventing the spread of diseases. Chief Charumbira urged Africans to work towards building a robust and responsive health framework that can swiftly address future pandemics and other health emergencies including the Mpox virus.
Chief Charumbira urged elected representatives to foster the implementation of welfare policies and safety networks for youth and marginalised populations to minimise migration and the attendant brain drain.
