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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppppISSUE 6 - AUGUST 2013 CONTENTS FEATURE ITEMS AOMA President Receives FEATURES ARTICLES Medal of Merit AOMA President Receives Medal of Merit...............1 AOMA joins AU 50th anniversary Celebration........2 New member: Ombudsman of Niger........................3 Editorial Comment........................................................3 Word from the President.............................................4 Profile: Public Complaints Commission of Nigeria.........................................................................4 Tribute to Grace Phiri...................................................6 REPORT BACK ON AORC AND AOMA MEETINGS AOMA EXCO Meeting takes place in Burkina Faso..................................................................6 Report on AORC...........................................................11 Appointment of Director.............................11 It was towards the end of the AOMA Executive Committee Research .........................................................11 Meeting held from the 18 - 20 june 2013 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Training ...........................................................11 Faso, that Dr Paulo Tjipilica was presented with a Medal of Merit for his Presidency of AOMA. The award was conferred by the GENERAL NOTICES Mediateur du Faso, Mme Alima Traore, on behalf of the General Assembly........................................................12 President of Burkina Faso, H. E. Blaise Compaoré. Next AOMA EXCO........................................................12 While highlighting the contribution that AOMA has given Useful Phrases..............................................................12 to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa, Dr Tjipilica suggested that this distinction was a result of the work that Angola had been doing to give visibility and raise the profile of the Ombudsmen institution in Africa. The intention was to promote to the highest extent the importance of human rights, citizen’s rights and duties, and good governance. Next page1 African Ombudsmantoday l ISSUE 6 – August 2013 In recognition for all the efforts, Dr Tjipilica, on behalf of his He added that it this very important event that structure, congratulated the Government, the President deserve to be commended, and congratulated and the authorities of Burkina Faso for all efforts to resolve the Malian government and its current Prime the crisis in Mali. He also expressed the support of the AOMA Minister, who was the Previous Ombudsman of 2 by welcoming the peace agreement that had been signed in Mali. this regard on the 19 of June 2013. This was done in the presence of AOMA represetnatives who were also on a mediation mission; which made Dr Tjipilica observe that, “Burkina Faso is the seat of reconciliation in Africa and it is in this same capital, Ouagadougou, that AOMA was created.” AOMA JOINS AU 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AOU 50th Anniversary development in the African continent. The APRM leadership When the African Union (AU) commemorated its 50th welcomed the proposal and it was agreed that a follow anniversary on 25 May 2013 at the AU Headquarters in Addis up meeting would be held to concretise the partnership Ababa, Ethiopia, it was a milestone whereat the African formalities. A key outcome of the 50th Anniversary celebration Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) joined of the AU, which included a summit, is a continental vision participants from the rest of the world to participate in the for the next 50 years titled “Pan Africanism and African activities. AOMA was represented by two teams led by the Renaissance - 2063.” President of AOMA Dr Paulo Tjipilica, (Provedor de Justicia, Angola) and AOMA’s Executive Secretary, Advocate Thuli As a follow-through on his attendance at these celebrations, Madonsela Public Protector, South Africa). The participation during the last week of October, Dr Tjipilica presented a was partly in pursuit of the Memorandum of Understanding paper at a Conference: 50 Years of Peace Building in Africa, and Implementation Framework signed between the AU and hosted by the President of Cote d’Ivoire. The conference AOMA in 2012, and the emerging partnership between the recognises the institution of the Ombudsman as one of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and AOMA. In innovative avenues for peace, mediation and the resolving of her presentation at the APRM Symposium, Advocate Thuli confl icts in Africa. Madonsela invited the APRM to partnership in recognition of the common interest regarding good governance as an important factor in the pursuit of stable democracy and Previous page Next page 2 African Ombudsmantoday l ISSUE 6 – August 2013 of State administrative bodies, local government, public institutions and any other body in the public service Editorial Comment in its dealings with consumers.” It is a pleasure to bring you the 6th edition the The Mediator is appointed by the African Ombudsman Today, our associations President of the Republic for a non- offi cial newsletter. Witnessing AOMA grow from renewable term of 6 years and is strength to strength has been a great joy. AOMA’s chosen on the basis of being well- footprint is growing rapidly in the continent, known for his/her moral integrity and while membership is increasing despite losses for his/her expertise in economic, occasioned, particularly by upheavals in Arab social and political matters. Africa. One of our signiĞ cant milestones was The mandate of the Mediator is Mr Amadou Cheiffou, the historic partnership with the African Union’s irrevocable and he/she is given Mediator of Niger Political Commission and the implementation judicial immunity during his/her framework for the main agreement. In pursuit tenure. of this partnership, and an emerging partnership New member: with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Ombudsman of The Mediator of the Republic of AOMA participated in the commemoration of the Niger is authorised to investigate 50th Anniversary of the AU in Addis Ababa earlier Niger the complaints of Nigerien citizens this year. This edition’s featured Ombudsman offi ce is and to make the appropriate that of Niger, AOMA’s newest Member State. recommendations, submitting his/her recommendations to the Offi cially welcomed into the AOMA fold as President and Prime Minister. All a full member, the Mediator of the Republic citizens of the Republic of Niger, of Niger participated in the 10th Meeting of including the President, the Prime the Executive Committee, held from 18 – Minister, their deputies and the 20 June 2013 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Presidents of Regional Councils, Faso. The Mediator of the Republic of may submit a written complaint to Niger and his collaborator were active, the Mediator for investigation. This attentive and enthusiastic participants report is made public. throughout its duration. Their contributions Adv. Thuli Madonsela to the discussions were appreciated by all The current Mediator of the Republic present. The participation of our members at the International of Niger is Mr Amadou Cheiffou, who Ombudsman Institute (IOI) Conference in November was appointed to the post in August The Nigerien delegation was led by 2012 was also a growth point. AOMA’s baby, the 2011. the Mediator of the Republic of Niger, African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) also Mr Cheiffou carried out his continues to grow in leaps and bounds. One of its His Excellency Mr Amadou Cheiffou, tertiary education in Senegal milestones was the Ğ rst ever comprehensive course who expressed to his African peers his and France and has a Masters on Ombudsman Practice off ered at the University commitment and willingness to respect the degree in Physical Science and of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa from 9 – 13 July texts of the Association and to promote the a postgraduate diploma in Air 2012. More courses will be taking place shortly, ideals of the AOMA. Navigation Engineering. Mr Cheiffou including the Sharpen Your Teeth Course scheduled to take place from 11 - 16 November 2013, in Lusaka, served his country as Prime Minister The Offi ce of the Mediator of the Republic Zambia. Research that will enhance our work as from 26 October 1991 to 17 April of Niger was established by Law no. Ombudsmen and mediators is also in the pipeline. 1993. He successfully organized 2008-36 of 10 July 2008 and was then We are also proud of AOMA’s growing footprint. the fi rst multi-party elections of instituted in the Constitution of the 6th We are grateful to and congratulate AOMA’s First Niger since its independence. He Republic. Dissolved by the military coup Vice President, the Ombudsman of Bukina Faso for was President of the Economic successfully hosting our last EXCO in June 2013. I of 18 February 2010, the Constitution and Social Council (CESOC) from take this opportunity to congratulate Mme Alima was re-instated by Law no 2011-18 of 8 2005-2009. He is also a well-known Traore, the Mediateur du Faso, who will be receiving August 2011. This law was then modifi ed politician and, in 2004, established a Presidential Medal of Honour later this year. While on 27 May 2013 in order to reinforce the the Social Democratic Rally (RSD- on that note, we bid farewell to our former Ğ rst Vice independence of the Mediator, to extend Gaskiya) which he still serves as President from Mali who relinquished his position his mandate and to allow him to join to become Acting Prime Minister in his country. Our President today. international Ombudsman and Mediator focus,