Arusha Turns into a Global Parliamentary Meeting Point
For five days, some of the world’s most pressing political debates have moved to Arusha. War, climate disasters, artificial intelligence, inequality and the struggle to rebuild public trust are among the issues facing parliamentarians gathered in Tanzania for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). However, beneath the long agenda lies a more basic question: what can parliaments do about problems that increasingly cross-national borders?
More than 1,500 speakers and parliamentarians are attending the meeting from 5 to 9 October at the Arusha International Conference Centre, with Tanzania hosting the IPU Assembly for the first time. The official theme is “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”
Tanzania’s National Assembly Speaker, Mussa Azzan Zungu, elected to preside over the 153rd Assembly, has used the gathering to argue that old divisions between developed and developing countries are becoming less useful, as many of today’s challenges require cooperation across borders.
“We are not two worlds; we are one world trying to build one future for humanity,” Zungu told delegates, pointing to the relationship between the Global South’s natural resources and young population and the technology and capital concentrated elsewhere.
More Than Speeches
Behind the plenary addresses, delegates are working through issues that could shape future parliamentary action.
One of the Assembly’s expected resolutions addresses the rights and empowerment of people living with disabilities, including how parliaments can use legislation, budgets and oversight to promote more inclusive societies. The Assembly is also considering an emergency item, while its committees address peace and security, sustainable development, democracy, human rights and relations with the United Nations.
The agenda extends to issues that increasingly affect national economies. Workshops and discussions cover critical minerals, artificial intelligence and the future of work, food systems, mental health, maritime security, and the role of parliaments in enforcing international law.
In Tanzania, the discussion about critical minerals is particularly relevant. Zungu argued that countries supplying minerals for batteries, renewable-energy technologies and electric vehicles should not remain mere sources of raw materials while others capture greater value. Instead, he called for investment that transfers technology, builds skills and creates local jobs.
Tanzania Takes Centre Stage
The Assembly also marks a significant moment for Tanzania within the IPU. Outgoing IPU President Dr Tulia Ackson, Tanzania’s former National Assembly Speaker, is completing her three-year term. Her tenure has been recognised for advancing women’s participation and gender parity within the organisation. IPU Secretary General Anda Filip, the first woman to hold that position, credited Ackson’s leadership with helping to make gender equality a broader institutional responsibility.
On 9 October, delegates are due to elect Ackson’s successor for another three-year term. The IPU announced the candidates as Sahiba Gafarova of Azerbaijan, Milton Dick of Australia and Rojo Edwards Silva of Chile.
Another change has already taken place around the table. During the Assembly, Nauru became the IPU’s 184th member parliament, thereby expanding the organisation’s representation.
What Arusha Leaves Behind
Hosting the Assembly also gives Tanzania something less tangible but still valuable: visibility. With lawmakers from around the world in Arusha, Tanzania has an opportunity to promote tourism, attract investment interest, and deepen relationships that typically develop far from public view. Tanzanian MPs attending the meeting have already highlighted those possibilities.
The Assembly is expected to conclude with resolutions and an outcome document on governance, inclusion and community empowerment. Whether those commitments translate into national laws, budgets and parliamentary oversight will determine their value.
For a gathering centred on rebuilding trust in institutions, that distinction matters. People are unlikely to judge parliaments by how many international declarations they sign. They will judge them by whether those institutions make their lives better.