By Barack Oduor
The African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) convened the Second Ordinary Session of its fourth Permanent General Assembly (PGA) in Nairobi on Friday, during which it chose new members in the wake of disgruntlement.
The ECOSOCC, through its General Assembly, is considered the highest decision and policy-making body of ECOSOCC. It is composed of two Civil Society organisations from each African Union Member State, ten Civil society organisations operating at the regional level and eight at the continental level, provisions are also made for twenty Civil Society Organisations representing the African Diaspora as defined by the Executive Council.
The election comes at a time when the leadership of the African Union and ECOSOCC faces a barrage of criticism over favouritism and the use of underhand tactics to deal with critics within it could face fresh challenges.
According to a statement released by the organisation and obtained by The Western Insight, the members of the General Assembly elected an office comprising the Presiding Officer (PO), Deputy Presiding Officers and chairs of sectoral cluster committees. Louis Cheick Sissoko of Mali was elected as the Presiding Officer while several candidates got elected as deputy presiding officers and chairpersons of sectoral cluster committees respectively.
Those elected also officially took the Oath of Office on the occasion. The Disciplinary Committee is composed of one ex-General Assembly member from each of the five regions.
In his speech, Presiding officer-elect, Sissoko expressed his gratitude for being elected and shared his vision for his tenure to focus on three strategic axes: strengthening impact within the African Union and internationally, optimizing internal functioning, and mobilizing resources through innovative financing strategies.
“For two years, marked by pressing challenges and renewed hopes, we have collectively established ECOSOCC as a true lighthouse of resilience and a sanctuary of participatory governance,” he concluded.
The Western Insight sought clarification from Head of Secretariat William Carew on why individuals from countries suspended from the African Union got elected into the body. In his reply that was guided by the ECOSOCC legal team, he claimed that ECOSOCC is an advisory organ made up of civil society organizations (CSOs) and not representatives of AU Member States or governments.
“This distinction is fundamental to understanding the election process and the eligibility of candidates. Individuals from CSOs based in AU-suspended countries, such as Mali and Niger, can indeed be elected to ECOSOCC structures, including ECOSOCC leadership,” said William.
A section of those opposed to the inner workings of ECOSOCC argues that the body practices double standards as it had in the past suspended a Sudanese from vying with claims that his country was suspended from AU membership.
“The election of candidates from AU-suspended countries shows clear double standards in the leadership and working of ECOSOCC. It should then explain why they suspended a Sudanese and a Sierra Leonean candidate from the body and from contesting respectively,” claimed a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The explanation of the ECOSOCC secretariat is that according to rules governing it, eligibility for membership is determined by the accreditation and selection process of CSOs, and not by the political status of their home country’s government.
“The election process for ECOSOCC structures is governed by its own statutes and rules, which are distinct from elections within the AU’s intergovernmental processes.”
In 2022, divisions rocked the body when AU suspended some members from ECOSOCC. Two Nigerians, Tunji Asaolu and John Oba, were part of the seven members who were suspended indefinitely for alleged misconduct.
Others include Abozer Elligai Elmana (Sudanese), Abdurrahman Mokhtar (Libyan), Roll Stephane Ngomat (Gabonese), El Hacene Abdallah Bah Mbareck (Mauritanian), and Shem Ochuodho (Kenyan).
According to a statement issued by the AU, a report by a probe panel set up to investigate allegations against the seven persons made “findings of misconduct/infringement of AU legal norms (violation of Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of ECOSOCC and provisions of the AU Code of Ethics and Conduct).”
The matter of the suspended matters has been in court with at some point counsels representing the outgoing AU Chairman Moussa Faki failing several times to appear in Nairobi.
