Rabat: The Conference of the Association of African Senates kicked off on Wednesday at the House of Councillors under the theme “The Contribution of Upper Houses of Parliament to the Consolidation of Democracy and the Preservation of Peace in Africa,” with the participation of presidents and representatives of African parliaments’ upper houses.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the conference’s opening session was attended by Speaker of the House of Councillors Mohamed Ould Errachid and current President of the Association of African Senates Kandia Kamissoko Camara, President of the Senate of C´te d’Ivoire. The event aims to provide a platform for dialogue and exchange of views on the roles of upper houses in enshrining the democratic system.

The conference also seeks to examine ways of bolstering institutional balance and preventing crises, as well as exploring prospects for promoting African parliamentary action amidst regional and international changes.

This annual meeting highlights the Association’s role as a permanent institutional framework for cooperation among African upper houses, focusing on the exchange of expertise, best practices, and strengthening coordination on issues of common interest. This, in turn, enhances the contribution of parliaments to sustainable development on the continent.

Held against the backdrop of dynamic changes currently unfolding across the African continent, the gathering urges greater consultation and coordination among representative institutions to address shared challenges, consolidate democratic principles, and maintain peace and stability.

The conference will culminate in practical recommendations to reinforce mechanisms for joint parliamentary action, consolidate democratic values, and support peace and development efforts in Africa.