The President of Africa

The Pan-African Parliament elected the Dr. Getrude Mongela as the first president of Africa under the African Union. Dr. Mongela will be the highest ranking person in Africa until her term is over in 2009.

She is known around the world as “Mama Beijing.”

The Pan-African Parliament is one of the most important organs in the African Union because it is expected to unify Africa and the African Diaspora politically, economically and socially. The African Union inaugurated the Pan-African Parliament in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 18, 2004.

Most Africans who have heard about this gigantic legislative body are excited that the Pan-African Parliament will eventually have full law making and governing power over the individual African countries starting in 2009.

Dr. Mongela is expected to build up the current the Pan-African Parliament that has consultative and advisory powers only to a full Pan-African legislative office. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is run by legislators from 44 African counties.[1] Each African country is expected to bring five representatives to the Pan-African Parliament.

By law, at least one of the five representatives must be a woman.

Up until June 2006, the PAP also has four Vice-Presidents: Prof F. Jose Dias Van-Du’Nem, an Angolan, in charge of Southern Africa; Dr. Mohammed Lutfi Farahat, a Libyan, responsible for Northern Africa; Mrs. Loum N. Ne’loumsei Elise, a Chadian, in charge of Central Africa; and Mr. Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere, a Beninois, responsible for the west Africa.

The President of the PAP, Gertrude Mongella, is a Tanzanian woman. She is married and has four children.

She is also an international figure who has demonstrated her superior skills as a teacher, a human rights activist, peace maker, experienced diplomat, and strong politician.
Dr. Mongela has promised to work on conflict resolution, poverty reduction, and fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. She has demonstrated ability to transform words into action on the international stage.

“She took an active leading role in setting up a mechanism which enables African women to participate effectively, at all decision-making levels, in the continent’s peace and development process,” according to the African Union.

In addition, her commitment to helping women around the word, specifically in China has earned her a pleasant nick name: “Mama Beijing.”

"If you want to be a leader, you have to be clear what you want and what you stand for. You must stand for principle. Principle will never let you down … You have to be able to choose what are the principles worth dying for … And you have to add on a little sacrifice. Leadership needs a lot of sacrifice - personal and public sacrifice."
Dr. Getrude Mongela


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[1] The 44 countries that are part of the Pan-African Parliament are Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The list is expected to increase and include the African Diaspora.