What: ECOSOCC Citizens' Forum 2025 - Reimagining Democracy and Advancing Reparative Justice: A New Social Contract
Who: Senior Government Official of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Mr. Louis Sissoko, Presiding Officer, ECOSOCC; H.E. Mehdi Jomaa, Former Prime Minister of Tunisia- Member of Club de Madrid; Mr. William Carew, Head of Secretariat, ECOSOCC; Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, Chief Executive Officer Africa Peer Review Mechanism; Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, Director, Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), African Union Commission, Mr. Augustin Núñez Vicandi, Senior Programme Manager for the Africa Region, International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID; Mr. Oliver Röpke, President, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Mr. Omar Farouk Osman, President, Federation of African Journalists.
When: 8 - 9 July 2025
Where: Hotel Bisila Palace Carretera del Aeropuerto, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Background: Now in its fourth edition, the ECOSOCC Citizens' Forum is a flagship platform for dialogue between African citizens and the African Union. The 2025 Forum will take place under the theme: "Reimagining Democracy and Advancing Reparative Justice: A New Social Contract."
The Forum builds on the momentum of previous gatherings held in Lusaka, Nairobi, and Accra, and serves as a critical space for civil society, policymakers, and institutional leaders to confront Africa's evolving governance landscape.
This year's event comes at a crucial moment amid growing calls for accountability, historical redress, equitable development, and democratic renewal across the continent. The Forum will tackle six key thematic areas, including reparative justice, continental governance reform, climate resilience, health sovereignty, fiscal justice, and the role of artificial intelligence.
The Citizens' Forum will feature expert panels, policy dialogue, and the adoption of concrete recommendations to guide AU institutions and Member States in delivering people-centred governance.
Key Objectives:
- Propose a new social contract that centres justice, participation, and historical redress.
- Deepen civil society engagement in AU policymaking.
- Promote Africa's leadership on global governance reform.
- Advance collaborative responses to climate, fiscal, health, and digital challenges.
- Build stronger connections between civil society, the African diaspora, and AU institutions.
Expected Outcomes:
- A Citizens' Declaration outlining bold, actionable recommendations.
- Strengthened civil society interface with AU structures.
- Proposals to shape Africa's stance on global governance reform.
- Enhanced multi-stakeholder partnerships for implementation.
Participation:
- Presiding Officer and Senior ECOSOCC officials
- Officials from the Government of Equatorial Guinea
- Officials from the African Union Commission
- Representatives of AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities
- Civil society organizations and networks across Africa
- The African Diaspora
- Development partners, academics, and technical experts
- Media representatives and observers
The media are invited to cover the opening ceremony on 8th July 2025 at 09 a.m. at Hotel Bisila Palace Carretera del Aeropuerto, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The opening ceremony will also be livestreamed on ecosocc.au.int/ecf.
