By Elizabeth Ameh

ABUJA, NIGERIA – This month, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is poised to make history by electing its first African woman president. The landmark election is scheduled to occur during the IPU’s 147th Assembly, taking place from October 23 to 27, 2023, with delegates from 179 Member States in attendance.

The newly elected IPU president will assume her duties for a three-year term, serving from 2023 to 2026. Four distinguished African women are in the running: Catherine Gotani Hara, Speaker of Malawi’s Parliament; Adji Diarra Mergane Kanouté, a Member of Parliament from Senegal; Tulia Ackson, Tanzania’s Parliament Speaker; and Marwa Abdibashir Hagi, a Somali Parliament Member.

IPU’s last president from Africa, Abdelwahad Radi of Morocco, served from 2011 to 2014. Typically, the IPU president is chosen from the ranks of Parliament Members rather than Speakers.

The president’s responsibilities include presiding over meetings, representing the IPU at international events, and fostering cooperation among member parliaments, aligning with the IPU’s mission of promoting democracy, peace, and sustainable development.

The election of any of the four candidates would mark a historic first for the IPU. Senegal’s Kanouté previously served as Vice-President of the IPU Executive Committee until March 2023, while Tanzania’s Ackson currently chairs the African Geopolitical Group of the IPU.

Somalia’s Hagi, a newer entrant, has gained support from various African IPU legislators thanks to her extensive travel and rich educational background. Hagi expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to be a strong advocate for member priorities, focusing on areas like conflict resolution, human rights, peacebuilding, cybersecurity, economic innovation, and technology.

Hagi’s recent participation in the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where she emphasized the importance of climate action and environmental sustainability, is likely to further strengthen her candidacy.

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Ackson faces a potential challenge from Somalia’s Hagi. Despite a joint statement of support for Ackson from the Federal Parliaments of Somalia, South Africa has expressed its intention to vote for Tanzania.

In Malawi, Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara is also preparing for the election. Despite lobbying efforts against her candidacy by Tanzania, Malawi’s President has refused to withdraw her from contention.

As the IPU’s 147th Assembly approaches, the election of the first female president is anticipated globally, marking a significant stride towards gender equality and inclusivity in global parliamentary leadership.