Francophone Africa: Lawmakers brainstorm on enhancing political dialogue, parliamentary diplomacy.

The opening ceremony at the Yaounde Conference Centre, was chaired by the Speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly, Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.

It was also attended by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute; the First Vice President of the Senate, Senator Aboubakari Abdoulaye; the President of APF, Francis Drouin; as well as some speakers of member countries of APF Africa Region. 

In his speech, Hon Cavaye highlighted the efforts made in modernising both chambers of Cameroon’s parliament, capacity-building for lawmakers and the implementation of a series of projects that are the focus of the cooperation with APF.

“I hope that this cooperation will continue and intensify. I remain convinced that this 30th Regional Assembly will give new impetus to this cooperation,” Hon Cavaye said.

He added that Cameroon has been active within the APF since its creation with some of its illustrious law makers haven occupied key functions within the organization. 

He then mentioned that discussions at the three-day meeting will focus on political dialogue and the functioning of the state as well as the use of parliamentary diplomacy to French-speaking Africa.

“In Africa, with its constant political upheavals, this theme is of the utmost importance. Here, as elsewhere, dialogue is the catalyst for the smooth running of institutions. It is the key to overcoming crises in any country,” Cavaye stated. 

“Cooperation links are forged at both bilateral and multilateral levels. If diplomacy can be defined as the act of exchanging and bringing points of view closer together, it is difficult to believe that individual States can confront the universal,” he said, adding that: “It is what I would call the fund of truth that enables peoples, at the end of a dialogue, on the basis of a majority or because of a consensus, to give themselves a Constitution, the Fundamental Law, accepted by all. This paves the way for the establishment of viable institutions to regulate the life of the State”.  

According to APF President, Francis Drouin, parliamentary diplomacy could play a key role in Francophone Africa facing socio-political crises among others. He also stressed on the need to get up to date with the use of artificial intelligence.

“Artificial intelligence is not something that is unique to Europe or America. It is something that Africa is participating,” Drouin told the press.

Going by the APF President, African experts will be advising the parliamentarians on how artificial intelligence can play a role in helping them participate in promoting democracy. 

It is worth noting that the Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the Cameroon chapter of the APF, Hon Hilarion Etong, APF Parliamentary Delegate General, Hon Bruno Fuchs, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius and the President of the Mauritian chapter of the APF, Hon Sooroojdev Phokeer, graced the meeting with their presence.