West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) - A meeting of the Association of Ombudsmen from member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) opened here Tuesday to address the peace and security issues in West Africa.
Addressing participants, Niger’s Ombudsman and former Prime Minister under the 1991-1992 transitional rule, Cheiffou Amadou, said the role of the Association was to provide technical advice to the UEMOA heads of state.
He said such advice was to help the leaders build and consolidate the rule of law as well as identify the sources of the current conflicts in the region with a view to addressing them in a more effective way.
On the Malian crisis, he said that the Association backed the Malian counterpart who played a significant role in the various attempts to resolve the problem.
Amadou added that the valuable role the Malian Ombudsman played in settling the crisis led to his appointment as Mali’s current interim Prime Minister.
An Ombudsman is an official, usually appointed by government or by parliament but with a significant degree of independence, who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violation of rights.
Pana 27/02/2013