Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, is now taking part in a six-day parliamentary diplomacy engagement as a representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Task Force (IPU-TF) on the war in Ukraine and Russia.
The nine-member IPU-TF, established in April 2022, will interact directly with the parliaments of Russia and Ukraine to help organize humanitarian aid, accomplish a total cease-fire, and contribute to confidence-building measures that may result in a long-term halt to hostilities.
The journey, which is in response to an invitation from the Russian and Ukrainian parliaments, involves a courtesy visit on the Speaker of the Polish Senate in Warsaw before continuing to Kyiv and Moscow during the week of July 11, 2022, according to parliamentary spokeswoman Moloto Mothapo.
The Russia-Ukraine war was discussed during the IPU’s 144th Assembly, which was held in Indonesia between March 19 and 24, 2022, according to Mothapo.
A resolution to establish an IPU task team to consult with the Parliaments of both nations and work with other mediating parties to resolve the problem was adopted as a consequence of the discussion.
The effort, at the level of the world’s parliaments, intends to support existing diplomatic initiatives at the governmental and UN levels.
“According to the IPU, the engagements are also in line with the worldwide association of parliaments’ ongoing efforts to support the development of inclusive and accountable parliaments, where all societal groups have a voice;
legislative frameworks are put in place to ensure the rights of all citizens;
and effective oversight is exercised over governmental action, including in terms of the strict observance of international law and global commitments,” Mothapo said.
Since its inception, the task force has held for planning and preparation meetings in advance of the planned interaction with the Russian and Ukrainian parliaments.
Mapisa-Nqakula is hopeful that the current IPU initiatives will contribute to a truce, narrow the distance between the two countries, and foster a negotiating environment that would result in peace between Ukraine and Russia.
“Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula voiced worry over the significant hardship that the prolonged conflict is inflicting on both countries and many other countries across the world, who are still badly impacted by the shortages of many essential household items and the skyrocketing prices of food.
According to Mothapo, “The Speaker highlighted the IPU expedition as another international example of increasing parliamentary diplomacy.”
Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, IPU Vice-President and Member of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, is in charge of the IPU delegation and serves as the task force’s president.
Speakers of Parliament from Namibia, South Africa, and Uruguay are among the task force participants, in addition to well-known MPs from Kazakhstan, Israel, and Indonesia.
On July 16, 2022, Mapisa-Nqakula is anticipated to return to South Africa.