MEDIA ADVISORY
Regional Political Parties Consultative Forum or East Africa

WHAT: Regional Consultative workshop to develop a Political Party Strengthening Program for the AUC in line with its mandate of promoting democracy and good governance on the continent.

WHO: The Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU) of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) of the African Union Commission.

WHEN: 21-22 August, 2019

WHERE: Arusha, Tanzania

TIME : 9 AM

WHY: The 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance urges member states to “strengthen political institutions to entrench a culture of democracy and peace”(art.12.2). However, since the adoption of the Charter, the AUC has paid scant attention to strengthening capacity of political institutions such as political parties. Lack of
sustained engagement with actors such as political parties, media, national parliaments
and civil society organizations (CSOs) remains a missing link in the AU’s quest for
democratic governance. Strengthening democratic/political institutions, particularly
political parties, has become increasingly necessary in order to improve not only the
quality of elections in the continent but also in achieving the AU’s broader goals and
values as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Objectives and Goals of the Workshop
The main goal of the regional fora is to introduce the AU political party program to
key stakeholders, to solicit input in key focus areas of the program, to take account in
the design and implementation of the Program, and provide an opportunity for inputs and
additional recommendations on the future programs of the AU.

Specific Objective

• To formally introduce the AU’s political party guideline to political parties in the
East Africa region, and ultimately, on the continent;
• Solicit input from political parties on what the AU’s added value on continental
engagement would be; and
• Reflect upon current issues impacting democratic governance on the continent,
including the theme of the year, and the role of political parties

PARTICIPANTS :
Participants will be drawn mainly from Executives of the two leading registered political
parties in the National Assemblies of AU Member States in East Africa, as well as regional and international organisations working on political parties program on the continent, and independent experts and think tanks.

Journalists are invited to cover the event.

The draft concept and programme are also attached:

For media enquires contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, +2519113611, e-mail yamboue@africaunion.org

Mr.Stephen Kwaku Darko| Information and Communications Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Tel: +251(0) 953406832 | E-mail: DarkoS@africa-union.org

For more information:

Mr. Guy Cyrille Tapoko, Head of Democracy and Electoral Assistance
Unit, Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission. Email:
tapokog@africa-union.org

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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