AOMA postpones General Assembly

Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela, the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) President, Dr Paulo Tjipilica and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Mali, Dr. Diango Cissoko have reached an agreement to postpone the fourth General Assembly scheduled to take place in Bamako, Mali.

The Assembly which will be held under the theme, “Reinforcing the African Ombudsman Institutions for consolidation of Democracy and Good Governance” was calendered for February 2012 and will now take place in October 2012. This is to allow the West African state to conclude its Presidential and Legislative elections scheduled to take place between May and August.

The decision was taken at the meeting between the Public Protector, who serves as the Executive Secretariat of the continental body, Dr Tjipilica and the Ombudsman of the host country, Mali in Pretoria today.

Among others, those expected to attend the event are, His Excellency President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Toure, Former Chairman of the African Union Commission, Alpha Qumar Konaré, Mo Ibrahim of Sudan, Ombudsman academics from Africa and beyond.

The meeting further decided that the space opened up by the postponement will be used to strengthen AOMA’s regional presence and influence through hosting regional conferences in areas like East Africa and Maghreb region which was recently affected by the Arab Spring uprisings. Tanzania will soon host the East Africa regional event while Botswana recently hosted Southern Africa region conference late last year.

AOMA is a 36-member states continental body and aiming to entrench good governance in state affairs, upholding of the rule of law and respect for human rights in the continent.

For more information contact:

Salvation Mokgatlhe Outreach, Education and Communications Officer
Office of the Public Protector 175 Lunnon Street Hillcrest Office Park
0083
Tel: 012 366 7035
Cell: 079 031 5589
Email: salvationm@pprotect.org
Website: http://www.publicprotector.org