Thirty-two African Countries Slated to Assess Peer Review Mechanism at Kigali Governance Forum

May 4, 2006: Some 300 representatives from 32 African countries will gather here on 9-11 May for a forum on implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism -- a ground-breaking effort that enables nations in the region to evaluate one another’s performance on democratic governance. Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, will open the Forum and will host an 11 May Heads of State Segment, which is expected to attract several African leaders.

The Sixth Africa Governance Forum is being organized by the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa, in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank. Under the theme “Implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism – Challenges and Opportunities”, participants will share their experiences and discuss how the Mechanism can help strengthen democratic governance in Africa. Speakers who will address the three-day meeting will include Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat, Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons, which manages the Peer Review Mechanism, and other Panel members; Gilbert Houngbo, UNDP Regional Director for Africa; and numerous ministers and senior officials from national governance institutions; parliamentarians; representatives from judiciary, ethics and anti-corruption bodies; political-party officials; and civil society, think tank and private-sector leaders.