Niamey Launch Summit
Sommet inaugural de Niamey
October 2 - 4, 2019 in Niamey, Niger
Du 2 au 4 octobre 2019 à Niamey, Niger
English version
From October 2 to 4, NDI and its partners jointly organized a summit in support of constitutional term limits to mark the official launch of the program.
Participants included Mo Ibrahim laureates as well as other African former heads of state who left office democratically and peacefully. These leaders were joined by representatives from the African Union and civil society organizations.
The summit featured panel discussions on, among other topics, promoting good governance through democratic processes, core principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law, and leadership opportunities for former heads of state.
Version française
Du 2 au 4 octobre, NDI et ses partenaires ont organisé un sommet sur la limitation des mandats constitutionnels.
Plusieurs anciens chefs d'État qui ont choisi de quitter leurs fonctions de manière démocratique et pacifique, dont des lauréats du prix Mo Ibrahim, ont participé au sommet. Des représentant de l'Union africaine et d'autres organisations de la société civile étaient présents également.
Le sommet était composé de panels de hautes personnalités qui ont discuté, entre autres, de la bonne gouvernance démocratique, des principes fondamentaux du constitutionnalisme et de l'État de droit, ainsi que des possibilités de leadership pour les anciens chefs d'État.
Photo gallery
Agenda
Programme
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Opening Ceremony
Welcoming Remarks
Dr. Chris Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, NDI
Dickson Omondi, Regional Director for Southern and East Africa, NDI
Remarks
Ambassador Eric P. Whitaker, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Niger
Former President Nicephore Soglo (Benin), Co-chair of Africa Forum
Presidential speech
President Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger
Panel I Guiding Principles of Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Respect for Term Limits
Moderator
Dr. Sophia Moestrup, Deputy Regional Director, NDI
Panelist
Former President Amos Sawyer (Liberia)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria)
Former President Nicéphore Soglo (Benin)
Calixte Mbari, African Union Commission
Panel II Facilitating Peaceful Transfers of Presidential Power
Moderator
Ulrike Rodgers, Program Director Francophone West Africa, NDI
Panelist
Former President Mahamane Ousmane (Niger)
Former President Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic)
Former President Amos Sawyer (Liberia)
Kevin Munyanganyi, Katiba Institute (Kenya)
Panel III Life After the Executive Office: New Opportunities for Continental Leadership
Moderator
Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI
Panelist
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria)
Former President Nicéphore Soglo (Benin)
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia)
Chantal Nare, Africtivistes
Thursday, Oct. 3
Opening Salutations
Ambassador Derek Mitchell, President, NDI
Panel IV Justice and Reconciliation as Competing Priorities
Moderator
Arnauld Akodjenou, Kofi Annan Foundation
Panelist
Former President Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic)
Former President Mahamane Ousmane (Niger)
Ben Nyabira, Katiba Institute
Janvier Bigirimana, Tournons la Page
Panel V Building Consensus around Respect for Constitutional Term Limits
Moderator
Dickson Omondi, Regional Director, NDI
Panelist
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria)
Former President Nicéphore Soglo (Benin)
Calixte Mbari, African Union Commission
Brice Mackosso, Tournons la Page
Draft Declaration of Principles (Civil Society Participants)
Taking Action: Strategy Development Session (Civil Society Participants)
Urbain Yaméogo, Centre d’Information et de Formation en matière de Droits Humains en Afrique
Executive Session on Draft Declaration of Principles (Former Heads of State)
Friday, Oct. 4
Panel VI The Way Forward
Moderator
Dickson Omondi, NDI
Panelist
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria)
Former President Catherine Samba-Panza (CAR)
Papa Ismaila Dieng, Africtivistes
Brice Mackosso, Tournons la Page
Presentation and Validation of Draft Declaration of Principles
Moderator
Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI
Press Conference
Closing Remarks
Former President Amos Sawyer (Liberia)
Representative of the Government of the Republic of Niger