On the occasion of the 10^th Anniversary of the operationalization of African Governance Architecture (AGA), Members of the African Governance Platform (AGP) held a strategic reflection retreat from 9-11 July 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya on the margin of the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM).

The AGA was established in 2011 by an Assembly Decision as a “a pan-African platform for dialogue between the various stakeholders” mandated to promote good governance and strengthen democracy in Africa, in addition to translating the objectives of the legal and policy pronouncements stipulated in the African Union (AU) shared values instruments.

The strategic reflection retreat discussed the role of the African Governance Platform in promoting peace and security; as well as enhancing synergy and coordination amongst the African Union Commission, AUC, AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanism (RMs). Discussions also reiterated the importance of setting the tone for the strategic direction and areas of collaboration and coordination over the next five years. The retreat informed the strategic direction of the Platform and identified ways to table the integration and good governance agenda at the MYCM of the Union.

The strategic reflection retreat was an opportunity for members of the African Governance Platform to deliberate on avenues to enhance synergy and collaboration in the implementation of the joint flagship projects that promote the ratification and implementation of African Union Shared Values instruments, with a particular focus on the African Charter on Democracy and Elections in Africa, ACDEG.

During the retreat, members of the African Governance Platform, AGP, identified flagship projects that are aligned to the fulfilment of Aspirations 3 and 4 of Africa’s Agenda 2063, which calls for “an Africa of good governance, democracy, the respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law” and “a peaceful and secure Africa” respectively. As a key flagship initiative, the retreat extended its appreciation to the African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, in spearheading the development of the African Governance Report, AGR-2023, which will be launched on 12 July 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya on the margins of the MYCM.

“There is need for a renewed commitment to unpack the concept of governance, make it an effective, efficient and unshakeable bedrock to support our member states with their efforts to make peace happen”, said Ms Patience Chiradza, the Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention at the African Union Commission.

The strategic reflection retreat will be followed by the Second Statutory Technical and Political meetings of the African Governance Platform scheduled to be held on 11 and 12 July 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

For further information please contact:

Ms. Makda Mikre Tessema | Democracy and Governance Expert: African Governance Architecture | E-mail: MakdaM@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia