ARUSHA, TANZANIA, 29 August 2026 — The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, has concluded her official three-day working visit to the East African Community (EAC).
The Speaker was accompanied by Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, Fourth Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, and Mr Dedou P. Hemou, Secretary General of the ECOWAS Parliament, among other officials. Rt hosted the Speaker and her delegation. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and Mr Alex Obatre, Clerk of EALA.
During the visit, the Speaker held high-level consultations and paid courtesy calls to H.E. Amb. Stephen Patrick Mbundi, the Secretary-General of the EAC, Hon. Justice Nestor Kayobera, the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), and other EAC institutions stationed in Arusha. The delegation also visited the African Court and the Pan African Postal Union(PAPU).
A central highlight of the visit is the presentation of a joint Concept Note between EALA and the ECOWAS Parliament proposing the establishment of a Network of Regional and Supranational Parliamentary Institutions. The network would operate as a high-level consultative and coordination mechanism within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other international bodies. It aims to strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy, foster solidarity, and enhance institutional cooperation across regions.
Key Objectives and Strategic Pillars of the Proposed Network
Institutional Cooperation: Strengthening partnerships and knowledge-sharing among regional bodies—including EALA, the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, and the European Parliament—in the areas of legislation, digital transformation, and governance.
Unified Global Voice: Coordinating joint positions and enhancing the visibility of regional parliamentary perspectives within the IPU and global multilateral forums.
Targeted Action on Global Challenges: Establishing specialised thematic working groups to address migration, regional economic integration, climate change, public health emergencies, digital transformation, and peace and security
Inspired Governance Model: Drawing on successful models such as the Bureau of EAC Speakers, the network will adopt a rotational leadership structure and hold biannual sessions alongside IPU meetings.
The visit underscores a shared commitment between the ECOWAS Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly to deepen ties between West and East Africa, while positioning regional parliaments as vital bridges between national populations and global governance.
— END —
Nicodemus Ajak Bior, Senior Public Relations Officer (SPRO),
East African Legislative Assembly,
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-768-885-633/, +254729157207(WhatsApp)
Email: nbior@eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org
