18–19 July 2024 Accra, Ghana – H.E. Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the APRM Continental Secretariat, engaged in productive consultations with delegations from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea – three non-APRM Member States – on the margins of the 45th Ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union, held on 18–19 July 2024.
H.E. Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose first met with Hon. Monday Semeya K. Kumba, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan, building on previous engagements during a sensitisation mission in Juba in 2023. Reflecting on the benefits of APRM membership, the Deputy Minister acknowledged the Mechanism’s potential to contribute to strengthening South Sudan’s institutions. “I believe the level of expertise of APRM will assist in addressing South Sudan’s major governance and development issues”, he said. Both delegations agreed to undertake a mission to Juba soon to resolve technical issues ahead of South Sudan’s accession to the APRM.
In another meeting, Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre consulted with H.E. Ali Mohamed Omar, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia. Reiterating the AU Assembly’s call for Universal Accession to the APRM by all AU Member States, Ambassador Rose Quatre highlighted the APRM reviews and the African Governance Report as tools to enhance the country’s governance profile. Minister Omar expressed appreciation for the APRM interest in Somalia and pledged support for his country’s accession process.
Additionally, Ambassador Rose Quatre advanced discussions with H.E. Biniam Berhe, Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to the African Union, regarding Eritrea’s potential accession to the APRM. Ambassador Berhe affirmed Eritrea’s recognition of the importance of APRM, and both parties committed to further engagements to facilitate Eritrea’s accession process.
These three high-level engagements underscore the APRM’s commitment to expanding its membership and fostering good governance across Africa.
