South Africa has announced its abstention from the adoption of the African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values at the 4th Inter-Parliamentary Conference currently underway in Accra, Ghana.
According to the South African delegation, the Charter’s definition of marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman is incompatible with the country’s Constitution and the international legal principles it adheres to.
The position was communicated by the head of the South African delegation, Zandile Majozi, during deliberations at the conference.
While expressing respect for the objectives of the Charter, South Africa maintained that it could not support provisions that conflict with its constitutional and legal framework.
Mozambique also announced its abstention from the adoption of the Charter, citing logistical constraints and legislative scheduling challenges.
The Mozambican position was conveyed in a letter addressed to Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin by the head of its delegation, Carlos Tembe. The letter was subsequently read to participants by the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah.
The developments occurred during ongoing deliberations among lawmakers and delegates from across Africa on the proposed Charter, which seeks to promote shared values relating to family structure, sovereignty, and cultural norms across the continent.
