The Africa Governance Report FOREWORD BY CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW FORUM This inaugural 2019 Africa Governance Report (AGR) has been prepared by the Continental Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in collaboration with the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Platform under the overarching theme: “Promoting African Union Shared Values”. The report has been developed in compliance with the decision of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (Assembly of the AU) of January 2017, Assembly/AU/Dec. 631 (XXVIII). This Decision had called for the APRM to be empowered to track implementation and oversee monitoring and evaluation of the key governance areas on the continent. This is the first report consequent to that decision and the subsequent Decision Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1 (XI). of the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU of November 2018. In the latter, the Assembly had specifically requested the APRM to provide an update on the State of Governance in Africa to its 32nd Ordinary Session scheduled for February 2019. The APRM Continental Secretariat, under Professor Eddy Maloka, should be commended for the tremendous efforts put into the research, analysis, consultations, drafting, validation and finalization of this Report. This is a home-grown assessment of governance on the continent. It is, therefore, a framework under which Africa can regain control of its own development agenda and accountability mechanisms. It has been developed by Africans for Africa, meaning that it will be easier for Members States to take ownership of and implement its recommendations. This Report provides a baseline for tracking performance in the selected areas of governance and highlights sectors where more effort is needed. It should be seen as a landmark, a starting point for establishing a basis for measurement, analysis, and projection of future trends, and a bi-annual reporting tool on governance at the continental level. The report notes that there has been significant progress in some African shared values and Agenda 2063 aspirations. Indeed, a good number of African leaders have declared National Visions and formulated innovative programmes. But though most African countries have adopted the culture of planning , there is still need for greater efforts to implement and internalize these plans to yield positive development outcomes. It is encouraging to note that Member States have implemented constitutional reforms for greater democracy, political freedom and pluralism. Indeed, many countries have restored multi-party politics, fixed presidential term-limits, conducted regular and competitive legislative and presidential elections, improved the oversight functions of legislatures, guaranteed judicial independence and allowed civil society organizations to function freely. However, the report also observes that there are still significant challenges to realizing the goals of democratic reforms, which need urgent attention. The report also looks at various development challenges on the continent, and recommends actions that the AU Member States can implement to achieve the objectives they have fixed. H.E. Idriss Déby Itno APR Forum Chairperson President of the Republic of Chad Page 9 of 96