#ecosocc

Le mardi 14 avril 2026, le Ministre des Relations Extérieures, S.E. Mbella Mbella, a accordé une audience à M. Mahamat Haroun Adoum, Vice-Président du Conseil économique, social et culturel de l’Union africaine (ECOSOCC). Une visite de travail au cœur du partenariat stratégique Cette rencontre s’inscrivait dans le cadre de la visite de travail effectuée au Cameroun par une délégation de…

The African Union Commission ('the Commission') hereby makes reference to the investigation conducted by the Office of Internal Oversight (010), pursuant to Executive Council Decision EX.CUDec. 1115(XXXVlll) of February 2021, paragraph (ii) which requested "The Commission to conduct an independent investigation by the relevant Department of the Commission into current and future alleged violations of the African Union Code of Ethics and Conduct by members of the ECOSOCC General Assembly, and to recommend appropriate sanctions through the Bureau of the Chairperson of the Commission.

Having complied with the due process of law, whereby the subjects of investigation were given a right to be heard in relation to the allegations levelled against them, the Investigation Report of the 010 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) against the following subjects of investigation:

Abozer Elligai Elmana, Sudanese

Abdurrahman Mokhtar, Libyan

Roll Stephane Ngomat, Gabonese

El Hacene Abdallah Bah Mbareck, Mauritanian

Tunji Asaolu, Nigerian

John Oba, Nigerian

Shem Ochuodho, Kenyan

The above-listed subjects of investigation have been implicated in the following misconducts as specified:

Abuse of authority/office and unlawful signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with third parties on behalf of AU ECOSOCC (Mr. Abozer Elligai, Mr. Roll Ngomat and Mr. Abdurrahman Mokhtar;

Illegal convening of the General Assembly and destabilization of ECOSOCC (Mr. Ngomat, Mr. Mokhtar, Dr. Mbareck, Dr. Shem Ochuodho & members of the Group of Eight).

Misuse of ECOSOCC letter heads, logo, stamp/seal (Mr. Abozer, Mr. Ngomat, and Mr. Mokhtar).

Illegal appointment of Ms. Evelyn Joe by Dr. El Hacene Mbareck as an AU ECOSOCC Global African Diaspora Forum on Migration and Developmerfv in Washington DC.

Illegal opening of a bank account in the name of ECOSOCC (UBA: AU ECOSOCC PROJECTS, Account No: 1022334209) in Nigeria (Dr. Tunji Asaolu).

Illegal signing of an MOU with DROMI, a Nigerian based NGO and another MOU with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs of Nigeria, on behalf of ECOSOCC ( Dr. Tunji Asaolu)

Illegal appointment by Mr. John Oba of Mr. Otunba Wanle Akinboye, the President of Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Nigeria as an AU-ECOSOCC Advisor on Culture and Tourism.

The improper behavior of Dr. Sheri Ochuodho as a member of ECOSOCC, which conduct is in violation of Article 8 (1) of the ECOSOCC Rules of Procedure and section 4 (1) and (2) of the AU Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Based on the findings of the Investigation Report of the Office of Internal Oversight, the above-listed subjects of investigation have been suspended immediately and indefinitely as a members of ECOSOCC, in compliance with the Decision of the Executive Council (EX.CL/Dec.1143(XL)), in which it was decided in relation to the Investigation Report on ECOSOCC members by the Office of Internal Oversight, wherein the Executive Council directed the AUC Chairperson "To expedite actions to prevent further damage on reputation and asset of the Union including; to immediately and indefinitely suspend individuals found to have committed misconducts or any breach of AU legal norms including the infringement of AU Intellectual Property Rights and act of forgery. "

Accordingly, the Commission wishes to advise that above-listed subjects of investigation cannot represent ECOSOCC in any capacity nor take part in the activities of the African Union and all its organs/institutions during the period of suspension. In compliance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of ECOSOCC, the matter shall be referred to the disciplinary committee of ECOSOCC to inquire into their conduct and determine the appropriate sanctions to be imposed upon them.

The investigation by the 010 was conducted pursuant to Executive Council decision EX. CUDec. 1115(XXXVlll) of February 2021, paragraph 3(ii) which requested "The Commission to conduct an independent investigation by the relevant Department of the Commission into current and future alleged violations of the African Union Code of Ethics and Conduct by members of the ECOSOCC General Assembly, and to recommend appropriate sanctions through the Bureau of the Chairperson of the Commission, and also pursuant to the Assembly decision Assembly/AU/Dec.757(XXXlll) of February 2020 which directed the Commission " ..to continue to take effective actions to address all acts of misconduct in the African Union, and to use his financial and administrative statutory oversight authority over all non-Policy Organs and Institutions of the Union, including the Pan-African Parliament, the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, and their elected officials."

About ECOSOCC

 On the occasion of its inauguration in Durban, South Africa in July 2002, the African Union embarked on a course to transform and integrate the Continent. The aims and aspirations of the new Union were a response to the calls for democracy and development from Africa’s vibrant civil society institutions. The Continent’s leaders were determined to build a Union that was people-oriented. Aware of the rich and diverse human and institutional resources at the grassroots level, the new Union, then, would be devoted to building strong partnerships between the governments and all segments of the society. The impulse is not for the African Union to organize civil society. Rather the organizing principle of the ECOSOCC of the African Union is one in which civil society would organize themselves to work with the Organization.

The distinctive character of the African Union’s ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union.

Established under the provisions of Articles 5 and 22 of the African Union’s Constitutive Act, ECOSOCC is the vehicle for building a strong partnership between governments and all segments of African civil society. The Statute of ECOSOCC, adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2004 defines it as an advisory organ of the African Union composed of different social and professional groups of the Member States of the African Union [Assembly/AU/Dec.42 (III)].  

These CSOs include but are not limited to the following: a)Social groups such as those representing women, children, the youth, the elderly and people with disability and special needs; b)Professional groups such as associations of artists, engineers, health practitioners, social workers, media, teachers, sport associations, legal professionals, social scientists, academia, business organizations, national chambers of commerce, workers, employers, industry and agriculture as well as other private sector interest groups; c)Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and voluntary organizations; d) Cultural organizations and e) social and professional groups in the African Diaspora in accordance with the definition approved by the Executive Council.

Launch of the First Permanent General Assembly – Dar es Salaam, September 09th 2008, the African Union (AU) took a decisive step in its efforts to consolidate the institutional architecture of the Organization with the Launch of the Economic, social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC) on 9 September 2008 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the Chair of the Union and President of the United Republic of Tanzania, presided over the event. In his keynote address at the launching, the Chair of the Union, President Kikwete noted that “with the establishment of ECOSOCC we are creating a people-oriented, people-centred and people-driven community in the African Union in which all stakeholders are effectively represented”. Moreover, he added “this event today has its uniqueness and significance in the annals of international organizations. This is the first time that an institution such as the African Union that began as an intergovernmental organization is incorporating non-state actors as full partners in the policy making process. In following this path, the African Union has gone beyond the mere processes of consultation that other institutions still adhere to. Africa therefore, has given the values of democratization and inclusiveness, a more holistic and enduring meaning and significance.”

Since the launching of the Permanent General Assembly in 2008, the challenges of ECOSOCC is to build its own institutions, establish an appropriate format for partnering with other units and organs as it fulfills its main function of providing advisory opinions to the AU in close collaboration with cognate departments of the Commission. These are the issues that have engaged and continue to engage ECOSOCC as a young institution of the AU.

v  Promote dialogue between all segments of African people on issues concerning the Continent and its future;

v  Forge strong partnerships between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular, women, the youth, children the Diaspora, organized labour, the private sector, and professional group;

v  Promote the participation of African Civil Society in the implementation of the policies and programmes of the Union;

v  Support policies and programmes that promote peace, security and stability and foster Continental development and integration;

v  Promote and defend a culture of good governance, democratic principles and institutions, popular participation, human rights and social justice;

v  Promote, advocate and defend a culture of gender equality;

v  Promote and strengthen the institutional, human and operational capacities of the African civil society;

ECOSOCC FUNCTIONS

As an advisory organ, ECOSOCC shall:

v  Contribute, through advise, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the Union into concrete programmes, as well as   the evaluation of these programmes;

v  Undertake studies that are recommended or deemed necessary by any other organ of the Union and submit recommendations accordingly;

v  Carry out other studies as it deems necessary and submit recommendations as appropriate;

v  Contribute to the promotion of popularization, popular participation, sharing of best practices and expertise, and to the realization of the vision and objectives of the Union;

v  Contribute to the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, good governance, democratic principles, gender equality and child rights;

v  Promote and support efforts of institutions engaged in review of the future of Africa and forge Pan-African values in order to enhance an African social model and way of life;

v  Foster and consolidate partnership between the Union and CSOs through effective public enlightment, mobilization and feedback on the activities of the Union;

v  Assume such other functions as may be referred to it by any other organ of the Union.

Composition

ECOSOCC shall be an advisory organ of the African Union composed of different social and professional groups of the Member States of the African Union.

These CSOs include but are not limited to the following:

Social groups such as those representing women, children, the youth, the elderly and people with disability and special needs;

Professional groups such as associations of artists, engineers, health practitioners, social workers, media, teachers, sport associations, legal professionals, social scientists, academia, business organizations, national chambers of commerce, workers, employers, industry and agriculture as well as other private sector interest groups;

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and voluntary organizations;

Cultural organizations;