Senegalese heads Association of Francophones Ombudsmen, Mediators - Senegalese Ombudsman, Serigne Diop, has been elected head of the Association of Ombudsmen and Mediators of the Francophonie (AOMF), according to an official statement received by PANA Friday.

The statement said Diop, professor of Constitutional law and a former Senegalese minister, was elected unanimously at the AOMF congress held Wednesday in Luxembourg.

The congress, whose theme was 'The specifics of the institution of Ombudsman', was attended by 70 representatives from 29 countries and organizations, the statement said.

The AOMF, created in May 1998, with headquarters in Paris, France, draws its membership from 53 members from the five continents, pursues objectives, essentially professional, for cooperation between its members, the statement said.

An Ombudsman is a government official appointed to investigate citizens' complaints against government officials, large public and private corporations.

While, in general, ombudsmen have wide investigative powers, they have only a few punitive powers.

Pana 20/11/2011