Keypoints:
- Eswatini backs a proposed African Charter on Family and Sovereignty
• Dlamini urges African lawmakers to resist external policy pressure
• Conference seeks stronger legislative cooperation across Africa
ESWATINI Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini has urged African lawmakers to support a proposed African Charter on Family and Sovereignty, arguing that the continent must defend its legislative independence, cultural values and development priorities from external pressure.
Speaking on June 3 at the Fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Dlamini said African nations should retain the right to determine their own laws and social policies while strengthening cooperation on issues affecting sovereignty, governance and family institutions.
The remarks came as parliamentarians, government officials, religious leaders and policy advocates from across Africa gathered in Ghana’s capital to debate proposals aimed at strengthening legislative cooperation and advancing a shared vision of African sovereignty and cultural self-determination.
Charter proposal takes centre stage
The conference focused heavily on a proposed African Charter on Family and Sovereignty, which supporters describe as a framework for promoting cultural autonomy, family-centred policymaking and greater cooperation among African legislatures.
Although the charter remains under discussion and is not legally binding, advocates say it could provide guidance for national parliaments seeking to develop policies rooted in African social, cultural and religious traditions.
Dlamini thanked Ghana’s government and Parliament for hosting the gathering and acknowledged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for supporting previous editions of the conference.
‘This work has been started on a foundation of unity, true equality and respect across our nations,’ she told delegates.
Call for legislative independence
A central theme of Dlamini’s address was the need for African countries to protect their decision-making authority while maintaining constructive international partnerships.
She argued that cooperation with foreign governments and institutions remains important but should not override national priorities or weaken domestic policymaking.
‘Sovereignty means the power of African people to legislate for ourselves without fear or pressure,’ Dlamini said. ‘It means parliaments, not foreign capitals, decide what is best for African children.’
The Senate President said African lawmakers had a responsibility to ensure legislation reflected the values and aspirations of their citizens rather than external expectations.
She also called for stronger solidarity among African nations when responding to political, economic and social challenges.
Family policy and cultural values
Dlamini devoted much of her speech to the role of family institutions in African societies, describing the family as ‘Africa’s first parliament’ and a foundation of social stability.
She argued that African societies should retain the right to define family structures and social policies according to their own historical experiences, cultural traditions and religious beliefs.
‘Our role as parliamentarians is not to impose a single model, but to protect the right of African societies to define family in a way that reflects our history, our faith and our lived realities,’ she said.
Dlamini warned against what she described as growing ideological pressures from outside the continent and criticised the influence of what she termed ‘progressive woke ideology’ on global politics and social debates.
She said African legislators should remain vigilant in protecting cultural identity and parental authority while promoting social cohesion.
Debate reflects wider continental tensions
The issues raised by Dlamini reflect broader debates unfolding across Africa over sovereignty, social policy and the balance between cultural traditions and internationally recognised human rights standards.
Supporters of initiatives such as the proposed African Charter on Family and Sovereignty argue that African states should have greater freedom to shape social policies in line with local cultural and religious values. Critics, however, contend that some proposals associated with such movements could conflict with constitutional protections and international human rights commitments adopted by many African countries.
Those debates have become increasingly prominent in recent years as lawmakers across the continent consider legislation related to family policy, cultural identity, religious freedoms and social governance.
Looking beyond declarations
Dlamini urged delegates to move beyond discussion and develop practical legislative frameworks capable of strengthening sovereignty and supporting family institutions.
She called for coordinated action at continental, regional and national levels and encouraged parliamentarians to return home with concrete policy proposals.
‘Let this conference be remembered as the moment when African parliaments stopped reacting and started shaping,’ she said.
Dlamini pledged Eswatini’s support for the conference process and said her country’s delegation would take the outcomes of the discussions back home for further consultation and legislative consideration.
Conference participants are expected to continue deliberations on the proposed charter and other policy initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among African legislatures on governance, sovereignty and social policy issues.
