Luanda: The Secretary-General of the Association of African Ombudsmen and Mediators (AOMA), Caroline Zulu Sokoni, advocated Tuesday in Luanda for a common alignment to improve the performance standards of this organization in the face of the continent’s demands. Speaking to the press at the end of an audience with Angolan president, Joo Louren§o, Caroline Zulu Sokoni indicated that this alignment reflects the principle that African solutions are sought for African problems.
According to Angola Press News Agency, AOMA, which is holding its 8th General Assembly on Wednesday in Luanda, is making efforts to improve its performance standards, aiming to reach a consensus on the most sustainable, efficient, and transparent way to fulfill its mission. Caroline Zulu Sokoni stressed that the objective of holding the AOMA General Assembly is to raise the prominence of ombudsman institutions in the African context, focusing on transparency, efficiency, and sustainability within the universe of ombudsman offices.
She exemplified the case of Angola, a country with a large territorial extension and a population of over 30 million inhabitants, where there is an Ombudsman institution whose primary mission is to defend the interests of citizens. Sokoni considered it imperative that this institution operates efficiently, sustainably, and transparently, since, in a country of such size, the needs of citizens are proportionally broader.
She spoke of the need to establish an ongoing dialogue with governments in order to identify best practices, as well as how to provide services to citizens and areas that require improvement. In August of last year, AOMA held a meeting of its Executive Committee in Luanda, which was responsible for preparations for the organization’s 8th General Assembly.
Caroline Zulu Sokoni thanked the Angolan Head of State, Joo Louren§o, for the institutional support in holding these two major events in the country. “The President’s stance, for us, resembled that of an ombudsman, as he welcomed our concerns and expressed his consent for holding our organization’s General Assembly in this country,” she concluded.
The 8th General Assembly of the Association of African Ombudsmen and Mediators held under the theme “Consolidating Transparency, Efficiency and Sustainability,” brings together representatives from various countries across the continent. According to the organization, the event will reaffirm the commitment of African Ombudsman institutions to defending fundamental rights, promoting good governance, and strengthening administrative mediation. The General Assembly constitutes a privileged space for the exchange of experiences, the analysis of common challenges, and the definition of strategies aimed at promoting a public administration that is closer, fairer, and more transparent for all African citizens.
Angola has held the presidency of the Association of African Ombudsmen and Mediators (AOMA) since 2023.