African Peer Review Mechanism gets new Chairman

godfred akoto

January 29, 2018 8:37 AM

Uhuru Kenyatta chaired the meeting

The 27th APR Forum of Heads of State and Government Participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism, was held on 27th January 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The APR Forum was chaired by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, who commended APRM Member States for their continuous support through contributions and willingness to partake in the APRM processes.

The Chairperson also acknowledged the efforts made at the APRM since the 26th APR Forum, towards the Expended Mandate and the integration of the APRM as a specialised agency of the African Union.

He further expressed that “There is a need for fastracking the integration of the APRM to the AU based on the principal of the AU, considering the Mechanism’s legal and human resource characteristics.”

The APR Forum recorded the following major highlights: the Accession of The Gambia as the 37th Member Country, the first-generation Peer Review for the Republic of Sudan and second-generation Country Review for the Republic of Uganda.

H.E. President Ernest Bai Koroma also delivered a presentation on the Third Progress Report of the Republic of Sierra Leone which, highlighted the improvement made in education, agriculture, infrastructure since the recommendations made in the Country Review Reports dated from 2012.

The 27th APR Forum elected H.E. President Idriss Déby Itno of the Republic of Chad as the new chairperson of the APR Forum.

The APR Forum also appointed a new Panel of Eminent Persons to be led by the incoming chairperson, Honourable Brigitte Mabandla, deputised by Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

The APR Panel congratulated Prof Mahmoud Khayal, for his distinguished and dedicated service as chairperson. The APR Panel welcomes the appointment of the new Chairperson which is an expression of the confidence of African leaders, and underlines that the APRM work programme in 2018 will build on the significant revitalisation achievements over the last two years, under the leadership of H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The year of 2018 officially marks the 15th anniversary milestone of the APRM. The APRM reviews have opened up space for citizen participation and it is the Panel’s hope that in partnership with the African Commission and other continental agencies and organs, we can meet the high aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for improving the lives of our citizens through good governance and socio-economic development.

godfred akoto