Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The ECOWAS Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) are proposing a network to strengthen cooperation and give the continent a greater voice in global policy debate as African regional parliaments gravitates towards a more coordinated legislative front.
This proposal was the product of a three-day working visit by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, to the East African Community headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, where she met EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, and Clerk, Alex Obatre.
According to a joint Concept Note presented during the engagement, there was a proposal for a Network of Regional and Supranational Parliamentary Institutions, potentially bringing together EALA, the ECOWAS Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament, while creating scope for engagement with institutions such as the European Parliament.
The proposed network would provide a structured platform for parliamentary institutions to exchange legislative experience and expertise, particularly in governance, digital transformation and institutional development.
It would also encourage coordinated African parliamentary positions on cross-border challenges including peace and security, climate change, migration and economic integration.
A key ambition is to enable regional parliamentary bodies to develop common positions ahead of multilateral engagements, strengthening Africa’s influence in international policy discussions.
The proposal includes a rotational leadership structure and biannual meetings to ensure balanced participation and continuity.
The ECOWAS delegation also consulted the EAC Secretariat, East African Court of Justice and Pan African Postal Union during the visit, broadening discussions on regional integration.
The Arusha engagement signals a shift from largely ceremonial inter-parliamentary relations towards structured cooperation with practical legislative and policy outcomes, at a time when challenges facing African states increasingly extend beyond regional boundaries.
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