CAPE TOWN (South Africa)— The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has appointed Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, to its task force to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, South Africa’s parliament said.

The appointment was made after the global organization of national parliaments adopted a resolution to form a task team to engage the parliaments of Russia and Ukraine, thereby joining forces with other mediating parties to end the conflict.

Her appointment comes after a virtual meeting between herself and IPU president Duarte Pacheco, in which a formal invitation was made for her to form part of the global legislative effort to, through dialogue, promote mediation and diplomacy, and bring about a peaceful resolution to the current situation.

The IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict formed part of the IPU’s emergency items debated in detail in the high-level segment of the meetings during its 144th Assembly recently held in Indonesia between March 19 and 24.

The task force will be led by the Speaker of the United Arab Emirates, who also serves as deputy president of the IPU.

Mapisa-Nqakula will also be representing the African Geopolitical Group in the task force.

“During the recent IPU Assembly in Bali, the South African Parliament’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict was that world parliaments must actively seek peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue, mediation and diplomacy. The Speaker has since conferred with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the appointment, and the President has expressed support and wished her well in her role.

“The Speakers’ Forum, a structure of Presiding Officers of Parliament and Speakers of the nine Provincial Legislatures, which met for its regular meeting today (Wednesday) in Pretoria, also wished Ms Mapisa-Nqakula well in her responsibilities,” said Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.

In a statement, South Africa’s parliament urged parliaments of other countries to “actively seek peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue, mediation and diplomacy.”

Established in 1889, the IPU has 178 member parliaments.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK