9 March 2016 – The APRM is forging ahead with its stated campaign to reinvigorate, restore and renew the Mechanism to its elevated status and prestige. The APRM commemorates today its 13th year of existence as Africa’s innovative governance tool concurrently with a watershed Country Review Mission in N’Djamena, Chad.

“It is important for the Mechanism to continue making its presence and value felt by African peoples across the Continent,” said APRM Chief Executive Officer, Professor Eddy Maloka addressing delegates at the APRM Day Celebratory event in Chad.

“A number of landmark events have taken place since the last APRM DAY Celebrations in 2015. A Review Mission was undertaken in Djibouti and the Review Report will be discussed at the next APRM Summit. Five missions have been conducted in Rwanda, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Liberia. APRM Review Reports of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Lesotho were tabled at the First Ordinary Session of the Fourth Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament. These are deliberate efforts to increase visibility, raise awareness and relevance of the Mechanism.” he said.

Speaking at the same event which was attended by Chadian Cabinet Ministers, National Governing Council Members, Civil Society, Academia and the media, Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons, Dr. Mustapha Mekideche was emphatic that the revival of the APRM can only be achieved if all stakeholders including Government, APRM Strategic Partners and APRM National and Continental Structures play their roles effectively.

He called upon all spheres of society to meaningfully engage with the APRM ‘for the sake of tomorrow”. The Panel Chair said apart from forging relationships with Diplomatic communities the APRM will also strength interactions with other like-minded institutions in order to share lessons and consolidate ideas.

The Celebrations are taking place on the margins of the Country Review Mission which is currently underway in Chad. They also conclude a series of commemoratory events which have been held as build up to today’ signature event.

In related news – Yesterday, on 08 March the Country Review Mission was officially launched for Chad in N’djamena. The Review Mission is one of five missions planned for 2016. The Chadian Country Review is a second after Djibouti, following a 3 year stagnation of no Country Review Missions. The overall review process provides a national space for dialogue on governance and socio-economic indicators in the Member State, and the opportunity to build a national consensus on the way forward. The National Programme of Action (NPoA) prepared at the end of the review process actualizes the road map agreed upon by all stakeholders.

This Review Mission is expected to set the momentum for the launching of Country Reviews in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan. Kenya is also expected to undergo its Second Generation Review later in the year. Among other things the second generation review offers an opportunity to examine and improve the implementation of the countries’ National Plans of Action and emphasiz e specific issues of concern that were raised in the first-generation review of a country.

A Review Team led by APR Panel Member, Hon. Joseph Tsang Mang Kin has already held consultative meetings with Chad’s Ministries of Justice, Tourism and Treasury. Plans are in place to further engage all government ministries, civil society organizations, media and other groups to encourage real debate, inclusive consultations in order to ensure the success of the Mission.

The Country Review Team is expected to conclude its consultative meetings by the end of March 2016.