Ki Moon praise APRM for deepening democracy in Africa
By Hassani Abbas – The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has praised the African leaders for coming up with an innovative self-assessment Mechanism-the African Peer Review (APRM).
Mr. Ki Moon said in the last 10 years, APRM has deepened democratic participation in Africa and has provided the Continent with a mirror to look at itself, identifies its challenges and strengths so as to move ahead.
He gave the remarks at a ‘High Level Panel Discussion on Africa’s Innovation in Governance Through 10 Years of the African Peer Review Mechanism,” held in New York this week to mark 68th Anniversary of the UN and Africa-NEPAD week.
Tanzania is among the 33 out of 54 African countries participating in the APRM and has already undergone all necessary stages now waiting to implement the views of the people through a National Programme of Action (NPoA).
“The APRM has deepened a democratic political culture among African governments. It has fostered more principled leadership and constructive national dialogue,” said Ki Moon and added:
“And the peer review process has opened up greater space for citizens to participate in the decisions affecting them.”
APRM was launched on 9th March in 2003 by African leaders as a brain-child of NEPAD with a mandate to conduct periodic governance assessment among member state with a view to foster accelerated development in the Continent.
Mr. Ki Moon also seized the opportunity to commend 17 countries which have completed their review reports. Tanzania and Zambia are the latest countries which their reports were reviewed and completed in January, 2013.
“I pay tribute to the 17 countries that have completed their self-assessment and peer review. This process strengthened national accountability. In some cases, the APRM has revealed underlying causes of conflict – with recommendations to address them,” he said.
The UN chief called upon the international community to continue supporting the APRM vision for Africa. “Now is the time to deepen and broaden this valuable peer review process so that more countries can benefit. The goal, of course, is for all countries in Africa to face this scrutiny, by themselves and by others. This is what African people expect of their leaders,” he underscored and added:
“Ten years ago, the APRM was a bold initiative that showed the world that African leaders were ready to take action on difficult and sensitive problems of governance and democracy.
“Ten years on, this approach has proven its value. On this anniversary, I call on all partners in the international community to fully support both NEPAD and the APRM. Let us resolve to usher in a future where all of Africa’s leaders answer to their people in democratic governments that are a model for our world.
Tanzania joined APRM in 2006, the National Assembly ratified the process in 2005 and the review process was completed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia when President Jakaya Kikwete submitted his country’s report before his peers.
