London, UK, April 5, 2018 – Organisers of the 6th Africa Report Debate say the continent’s brightest talents and sharpest intellects will clash on Friday 27, at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda.
The debate, under the umbrella of the 2018 Ibrahim Governance Weekend (27-29 April 2018), will argue:
“IS THE AFRICAN UNION A NECESSITY?”
The challenges of the 21st Century – security, demographic, economic, climate — require continental-level organisation.
But it can be argued that the African Union has been reduced to a talking shop where little tough negotiation occurs. Would African countries be better off cutting payments to the AU and focusing on their own national development plans for now? This subject will allow supporters and critics of the AU to put across their views and open up the debate to the larger subject of why the AU was created and what the average citizen is expecting from it.
“Following on from our other successful debates in Accra, Geneva, London, Abidjan and Marrakesh, this April debate will feature high profile speakers and experts, with an audience made up of top politicians, business people and activists from across Africa. We will have two main speakers on either side of the debate, as well as expert witnesses in the audience”, according to a statement from the organisers.
The confirmed speakers and experts include:
- Donald Kaberuka, Member, Global Leadership Foundation and former president of the African Development Bank
- Dr Carlos Lopes, Professor, Graduate School Of Development, Policy & Practice, University of Cape town and former Executive secretary, Economic Commission for Africa
- Nanjala Nyabola, Writer and activist; Head of Programmes, Heinrich Boell Foundation, East and Horn of Africa
- Comfort Ero,Director, Crisis Group Africa programme
- Clare Akamanzi,CEO, Rwanda Development Board
- Moïse Katumbi, Congolese politician and businessman. Former Governor of Katanga, DRC
- Acha Leke, Senior partner,McKinsey & Company, SA. Co-founder, African Leadership Network
This year’s debate will also feature the sharp minds of Rwanda’s future business leaders. Students from the African Leadership University, Kigali, will host their own debate on Thursday and present their findings during our event on Friday.
“The debate will be carried by national broadcasters in Rwanda and be followed on our website and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation website, which will carry audio and video footage of the debate”.
African Eye Report
