Hon. Idriss Ndele Moussa from the Republic of Chad in Central Africa, is the Pan-African Parliament's (PAP) newly elected president. The body, yesterday, Thursday May 28, 2009, held its 2nd election for the positions of president and vice president at the PAP Headquarters in Midrand, South Africa.

Members of the Pan-African-Parliament (PAP) last week agreed to conduct election on May 28, 2009 with a motion put to the Housefor members   that: "The tenure of the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament and the bureaus of the organs of the Pan-African Parliament be fixed at three (3) years", and that "the general election of the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament and the bureaus of the organs of the Pan-African Parliament be held on Thursday, 28 May 2009."

The members then proceeded to debate on  amendments to the rules of procedure, to allow for this motion to be carried out. In their last summit, the African Union heads of state and governments requested PAP "to amend its rules of procedure to conform to the legal instruments of the AU" and "to urgently fix a term limit for its  Bureau, drawing inspiration from other AU organs and to immediately hold new elections to renew the mandate of the current Bureau or elect a new one".

Addressing the House shortly after being elected, Hon. Idriss Ndele Moussa, the new president of the Pan-African Parliament commended Dr Gertrude I. Mongella, the out-going president and the entire Bureau for taking this institution to the right path. He thanked the members for demonstrating a sign of democracy.  "I am here before you as a pan-African and also to represent the entire continent," he stated.  For her part, Dr Gertrude I. Mongella congratulated the incoming president. She assured him that she will continue to be member in this parliament and will work with him without hand in gloves.

According to her, what the parliament need is love and unity and without this, there cannot be criticism against any other country. "Let us give the new president support as you gave me. We started without a pen, paper or even a chair, but because of the support I got from you, we reach here today," she said.

She added that they do not have a political party in the parliament, but they all belong to one party and that is PAP. During the contest for the presidency, each region nominated its candidate for the seats of both president and vice president. In the presidency seat, there were representatives from Western, Central and Northern Africa and each of these regions, nominated one candidate. No candidate came from the Southern and Eastern  Africa. Also for the vice presidency, each region had two representatives to contest in the election except West Africa. The candidates who were contesting for the seat of presidency were: Hon. Lassane Sawadogo of Burkina Faso, Hon Idriss Ndele Moussa of Chad, and Hon. Mostefa Abdelaziz El-Gendy of Egypt.

For the vice presidency, in Western Africa, Hon. Adjaratou Abdoulaye of Togo and Hon. Bethel Amadi of Nigeria: Eastern Africa, Hon. Mary.R. Mugyenyi of Uganda and Hon. Ahmed Hassen Abduselam of Ethiopia; Southern Africa: Hon. Joram Macdonald Gumbo of Zimbabwe and Hon. Moggie Mosetsana Thebe Mbaakanyi of Botswana: Central Africa, Hon. Zely-Pierre Inzoungou Massanga of Congo and Hon. Marie-Therese Toyi of Burundi: Northern Africa, Hon. Laroussi Hammi of Algeria and Hon. Georgette Kalliny of Egypt.

The results of the election for the position of President are:  Hon. Lassane Sawadogo of Burkina Faso-34 votes;   Hon Idriss Ndele Moussa of Chad- 82 votes and Hon. Mostefa Abdelaziz El-Gendy of Egypt- 13 votes. The results of the election for the position of vice president are: Hon. Bethel Amadi of Nigeria- 1st pice president of PAP from West Africa;  Hon. Mary.R. Mugyenyi of Uganda -2nd vice president of PAP from Eastern Africa; Hon. Laroussi Hammi of Algeria-3rd vice president of PAP from Northern Africa and Hon. Joram Macdonald Gumbo of Zimbabwe- 4th vice presiden of PAP from Southern Africa.

Idriss Ndele Moussa Yayami, the just elected president of the Pan-African Parliament was born on April 17th 1953. He is married with 6 children. He is a dental surgeon by profession. He is an assistant master at the Faculty of Health Sciences at N'Djamena University.