The Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) is an indigenous pan-African inter-parliamentary organisation established in 2020, with its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. As a unifying body for the legislatures of African member parliaments, CoSPAL is dedicated to fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination amongst legislative leadership across the continent.
Initially named the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (CoSAP), the organisation was renamed during its 2nd General Assembly in Accra in 2024 to reflect a renewed commitment to inclusivity and its expanded mandate.
CoSPAL provides a dynamic platform for dialogue, coordination, cooperation, and the exchange of legislative best practices, enabling member states to address common challenges and chart a collective path toward sustainable development and regional integration.
Vision
To unify Africa’s legislative leadership to address common challenges and advance sustainable development.
Mission
To provide a platform to foster collaboration, coordination and cooperation amongst legislative leadership, supporting Africa’s growth and governance.
Governance Structure
Chair
Secretary-General
Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole
Nigeria
Vice Chairs
Hon. Anita Annet Among
Uganda - East Africa
Hon. Gbèhounou Louis Vlavonou
Benin - West Africa
Hon. Salem Benmebarek
Algeria - North Africa
Hon. Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi
Congo - Central Africa
Advisory Committee
Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR (Founding Speaker)
Nigeria - WestAfrica (Former )
Adama Bictogo (Côte D’ivoire)
West Africa (Incumbent)
Rt. Hon. Moses Masika Wetang’ula
Kenya - East Africa (Incumbent)
Donatille Mukabalisa
Rwanda - East Africa (Former)
Morocco
TBC - North Africa (Incumbent)
TBC
North Africa (Former )
Gabon
TBC - Central Africa (Incumbent)
Angola
Central Africa (Former)
TBC
Southern African (Former)
TBC
Southern Africa (Incumbent)
Audit Committee
History of CoSPAL
CoSPAL was initiated in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to address shared legislative challenges across Africa. The initiative was led by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR (Nigeria), alongside key leaders, including Rt. Hon. Tagesse Chafo (Ethiopia), Rt. Hon. Justin Muturi (Kenya), Rt. Hon. Donatille Mukabalisa (Rwanda), Rt. Hon. Moustapha Niasse (Senegal), Rt. Hon. Mike Oquaye (Ghana), Rt. Hon. Thando Modise (South Africa). It started as CoSAP but was renamed in 2024 to embrace inclusivity and pan-African representation. CoSPAL’s foundation is built on fostering collaboration between Africa’s legislative leadership, advocating for Africa’s development agenda, and presenting a united parliamentary voice.
Objective of CoSPAL
Facilitate increased deliberation, collaboration, and cooperation among Speakers and Presidents of Legislatures across Africa.
Forge closer relationships with international, inter-governmental, and civil society organisations to address shared challenges.
Mobilise collective action to advance Africa’s development agenda and promote good governance.
Develop legislative solutions for issues such as debt management, food security, climate change, and regional integration.
Strengthen the role of African legislative leadership in promoting democracy and sustainable development.
CoSPAL
The Voice of Africa’s Legislative Leadership
Strategic Operations
- Oversight Functions: Enhance legislative oversight of Africa’s public financial and economic management systems.
- Advocacy for Debt Cancellation: Lead initiatives like the Debt Cancellation Campaign Initiative (DCCI) to alleviate economic burdens.
- Regional Integration: Promote operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade.
- Human Rights and Democracy: Support the defence and promotion of human rights and democratic governance.
- Collaboration: Facilitate exchange of best practices among member parliaments.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Align legislative priorities with global and continental development goals.
- Crisis Preparedness: Advocate for resilient health mechanisms to manage epidemics and pandemics.
- Gender and Youth Inclusion: Foster legislative environments that prioritise inclusivity for women, youth, and marginalised groups.
- Climate Action: Develop and implement collaborative strategies to combat climate change and preserve natural resources.
- Preservation of African Heritage: Advocate for legislation to protect natural resources, cultural heritage, and African traditions.
- Strong Partnerships: Build alliances with regional institutions and parliamentary organisations such as the African Union, the African Development Bank, ECOWAS, and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
- Electoral Support: Promote fair and transparent electoral processes by supporting legislative frameworks for credible elections and offering observer missions.
- Security Initiatives: Develop and promote legislative environments to combat extremism, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity.
- Social Fabric and Norms: Strengthen legislation that preserves African social fabrics, cultural norms, and moral values, ensuring they remain central to societal progress.