HIBAPRESS – MAP
The President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and President of the Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions in Africa, Abdelkader Amara, called on Tuesday in Cotonou, Benin, to strengthen the role of economic and social councils in the field of participatory democracy and civil society diplomacy in Africa.
A statement from the Council clarified that Amara, who participated in the opening of the first ordinary session of the Economic and Social Council of Benin for the year 2026, at the invitation of the Council President Conrad Gbagedi, praised the extensive reform initiated by the Beninese authorities with the aim of strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council, establishing it more firmly in the country's regions, and bringing its services closer to citizens. During this official ceremony, which was marked by the presence of the heads of the constitutional institutions of the Republic of Benin, along with the presidents of the Economic and Social Councils of Côte d'Ivoire and France, Mr. Amara highlighted the great contribution of the Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions in Africa in promoting the diplomacy of organized civil society, through a special approach based on mobilizing data extracted from participatory initiatives, citizen consultations, and field studies. On the other hand, the President of the Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions in Africa mentioned the importance of the initiatives launched by the Union to strengthen its position within the African regional integration agenda, as well as the process of expanding this umbrella organization with the recent accession of Equatorial Guinea and Angola. Mr. Amara pointed out that the Union will focus in the coming months on the issue of health sovereignty and access to treatment, stressing the need to raise issues aimed at improving the well-being of societies, promoting shared prosperity, and achieving development goals for the population. On the occasion of this session, Mr. Amara officially presented the advocacy memorandum on climate action in Benin, which is the result of a study conducted by the Union in sixteen African countries. This report aims to raise awareness among the various parties concerned about the urgency of climate change and the need to strengthen climate governance. It also calls for establishing a climate diplomacy centered on the citizen, based on actual climate justice, integrated green growth, and African green mobility. The statement concluded that this meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening synergies between advisory bodies and public authorities, which provides continuous support for democratic construction and enhances citizens' trust in institutions.
