The Government of Egypt has expressed its readiness to launch the country review process within the framework of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
The commitment was expressed by Egyptian President H. E. Mr Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at a meeting he held in his office with an APRM delegation led by Honourable Joseph Tsang Mang Kin on 18 June 2016.
The President underlined his support for the Mechanism and his country’s readiness to work closely with Egypt’s African brothers and sisters in the process to enhance the quality of governance on the continent.
The purpose of the two-day APRM advance mission was to conduct a series of consultations with relevant government officials on how best to support Egypt’s preparations to commence the review process. The establishment of all necessary institutions at the national level, and particularly the designation of a Focal Point, constitution of a National Governing Commission/Council and establishment of a national APRM secretariat are the three most important steps that need to be taken before the review process commences. So far, only the first – i.e. the appointment of the APRM Focal Point – has been accomplished.
Egypt’s commitment to launch the country review process was also reiterated by other senior government leaders, including the Foreign Minister, H. E. Mr Sameh Shoukry, and H.E. Ambassador Achraf Ibrahim, Assistant Minster of Foreign Affairs and APRM Focal Point. Both the Foreign Minister and the Focal Point also indicated that they would soon start the process of establishing and consolidating the national APRM Secretariat and the National Governing Council.
The APRM delegation also held meetings with other senior officials, including H. E. Prof. Ali Abdel-Al (Speaker of the House of Representatives,), H. E. Ms Ghada Waly (Minister of Social Solidarity), H. E. Mr Magdy El-Agaty (Minister of Legal and parliamentary affairs), and H. E. Mr Mohamed Fayek (President of Egypt's National Council for Human Rights).
Other activities conducted by the APRM advance mission include roundtable sensitization meetings with representatives of a cross-section of Egyptian society, including different government departments (e.g. representatives from the ministry of education, the environment, etc.), the private sector (e.g. from the chambers of commerce, industry associations, etc.), academics, and civil society organisations (such as those advocating for the rights of children and women). The meetings covered a wide-range of issues, such as what the country review exercise looks like, the steps that have to be undertaken, the meaning and potential impact of a successful review and the manner of its follow-up, and the timeframe within which this can be completed.
At the conclusion of the mission, Honourable Joseph Tsang Mang Kin expressed his appreciation to the people and Government of Egypt for their warm welcome and hospitality and congratulated the Government for its commitment to embark on this critical process. Honourable Tsang Mang Kin also promised that the continental institutions will provide every support to make sure the review exercise is a success.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of African Union Commission (AUC).
Source: Apo-Opa
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