While hundreds of members of parliament from around the world were attending the 114th IPU Assembly in Nairobi on 7-12 May, famine and malnutrition were causing tremendous suffering in drought-affected North-Eastern Kenya and bordering countries. The situation called for immediate action, but also illustrated the long-term need for a more effective and consistent approach toward food security, and indeed development as a whole, on the continent.
A group of parliamentarians traveled on a fact-finding mission to Garissa, one of the most affected areas, and upon their return issued an urgent call on the world’s international community to provide immediate and generous assistance to the affected populations. Their testimonies also proved very useful when the Assembly adopted an emergency resolution outlining the measures needed in order to help Africa to ward off such crises in the future.
In fact, the resolution does a lot more than call for urgent and effective international assistance. It also draws attention to underlying problems such as the lack of land tenure for farmers, the need for parliaments and governments in Africa to promote income-generating activities in the poorer regions more consistently, and the distortion of food distribution resulting from undue politicisation. In addition, the resolution calls attention to the international trade and financial regime that continues to hold back Africa’s development.
The theme of Africa’s development was taken up again in a specialized panel discussion that attracted great interest from participants. With the help of MPs from Namibia, UK, Morocco, and Kenya, as well as the World Bank’s country representative, parliamentarians from both North and South engaged in a wide ranging discussion on corruption, foreign aid, debt and conditionality, health and food security, trade, and conflict as an obstacle to development.
Over and above the many conclusions reached at this debate, one main point emerged: parliaments must exercise their legislative and oversight functions to the fullest if governments are to keep their commitments to Africa. Part of this effort must include more regular dialogue and cooperation among parliamentarians from both donor and recipient countries, in support of the development agenda.
