26 February 2016, Johannesburg South Africa– Newly appointed APRM CEO, Eddy Maloka, has outlined his vision as that of ensuring the body is elevated and its prestige restored to levels worthy of its mandate and potential.

“Despite the challenges currently facing the APRM, evidence does show that the APRM’s full potential is yet to be fully realized. We currently have a support mission underway in Liberia and five reviews planned for Chad, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan and a Second Review of Kenya,” Prof. Maloka said. The last APRM Country Review Process was undertaken in Zambia, three (3) years ago.

“These are demonstrative of the attitude of reviving and restoring the APRM to its mandate of deepening democracy with a view to strengthening achievements, disseminating best practices and rectifying underlying deficiencies in governance and socio-economic development processes among AU Member States,” he added.
Prof. Maloka was speaking today (26 February 2016) at an event to commemorate APRM Day celebrations in Sandton, South Africa. The high level roundtable event was attended by dignitaries from the South African government, Ambassadors and Representatives from South African-based Envoys, APRM Strategic Partners and other stakeholders. The event sought to increase visibility and awareness of the APRM within the African Continent and beyond and reflect on the Mechanism’ successes while exploring on its future prospects.

Expressing hope in the commitment of Member States and other APRM role players, APR Panel of Eminent Persons, Dr. Mustapha Mekideche emphasized that more must be done to build on the successes of the APRM. He urged Countries to honor their financial obligation to ensure efficient running of the Secretariat. The Panel Chair also pleaded with non-member countries to join the APRM to ensure consistent rollout of the agendas 2030 and 2063 as well as effective monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Following Prof. Maloka’s address Embassy Representatives and Ambassadors from Tunisia, Burundi, the Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe, Central Africa Republic, Senegal, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Chad, Togo, Gabon, Angola, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Burundi, Algeria, Congo DRC, Congo Brazzaville unanimously agreed that the Mechanism is still relevant and the best instrument Africa has in striving for equality, diversity, plurality of voices and ideas, growth and opportunity resulting in greater dialogue between governments and their citizens.

Delegates at the event pledged their organizations’ support to the APRM. They expressed their full commitment to the ideals and objectives of the APRM.

The event was well attended by delegates representing the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism, think tanks, academia, trade unions, faith based organizations and media resolved to remain fully engaged with the primary African governance instrument.

The 26 February APRM Day event marks a series of events to celebrate the 13th Anniversary of the APRM with the main event planned for 9 March 2016 in N’djamena, Chad.