By Staff Writer
Inter-Parliamentary Union President Hon. Tulia Ackson arrived in Geneva this week where she chaired the IPU Executive Committee meeting, the last session to be held in the Swiss city before the global parliamentary body moves its focus to Tanzania for its next major assembly.
The meeting marked a pivotal moment for the 137-year-old organization. In a formal handover ceremony, newly appointed IPU Secretary General Ambassador Anda Filip received the official instruments of office from outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong, whose tenure has been credited with expanding the IPU’s global reach and modernizing its operations. The transition signals both continuity and renewal as the IPU prepares for one of its most ambitious gatherings yet.
For Hon. Ackson, who is also the former Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, the Geneva session carried dual significance. It closed the IPU’s current cycle of administrative meetings in Switzerland and officially launched the countdown to the 153rd IPU Assembly, scheduled for Arusha in October 2026. The choice of Arusha is historic. It will be the first time Tanzania hosts a full IPU Assembly, positioning the country at the center of parliamentary diplomacy.
The upcoming assembly is expected to draw more than 2,000 delegates, including Speakers of Parliament, MPs, and parliamentary staff from over 180 member parliaments worldwide.
President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan will serve as the official host of the conference, underscoring the government’s commitment to multilateralism and legislative cooperation.
The IPU Executive Committee used the Geneva meeting to finalize key preparatory issues for Arusha, including the draft agenda, security coordination, and thematic debates. Topics likely to dominate the 153rd Assembly include strengthening democracy, climate legislation, gender equality in parliaments, and the role of parliaments in peacebuilding.
Speaking on the sidelines of the session, Ambassador Dr. Hoyce Temu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, emphasized that hosting the assembly is a vote of confidence in Tanzania’s democratic institutions and its capacity to convene global dialogue. “This is not just Tanzania’s moment, it is Africa’s moment,” she noted during informal discussions with delegates. “We are ready to welcome the world to Arusha and show how parliaments can shape solutions to shared challenges.”
Founded in 1889, the IPU is the world’s oldest international political organization. Its assemblies serve as a platform for parliamentary diplomacy, where lawmakers build consensus on global issues outside formal government negotiations.
With the Geneva handover complete and Ambassador Filip now at the helm of the secretariat, attention shifts to Arusha. For Tanzania, the 153rd IPU Assembly represents an opportunity to showcase its hospitality, infrastructure, and growing influence in international affairs. The hashtag #ipu153arusha has already begun circulating as parliamentary staff and diplomats prepare for what is set to be a landmark event in October 2026.
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