At the invitation of the General Inspectorate of the Republic of Djibouti, the 13th regular meeting of the Steering Committee of the Forum of General Inspectorates and Similar Institutions was held on October 24 and 25, 2023, in the country’s capital.

The meeting, held at the Kempinski Palace Hotel in Djibouti, was attended by the members of the Steering Committee, namely the Inspector General of the State of the Congo and Chair of the Steering Committee, Mr. Germain Kiamba, the Inspector General of Administration and the State of Angola, Vice Chair of the Steering Committee, Mr. Angelo Da Veiga Tavares; the Director General of the General State Inspectorate of Madagascar, Mr. Daniel Randrianarivoni; the Representative of the Inspector General of the State of Mauritania, Mr. Haye Maham, the State Comptroller General (PI) of the Higher Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption of Burkina Faso, Mr. Millogo Urbain, and the Inspector General of the State of Djibouti, Executive Secretary, Mr. Hassan Issa Sultan.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of FIGE and Inspector General of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr. Hassan Issa Sultan, after welcoming all participants to the meeting and wishing them a pleasant stay in Djibouti, stated, “Your expertise and active participation are essential to advancing our mission of strengthening good governance, transparency, and accountability in our respective countries.”

The Executive Secretary also traced the origins and evolution of FIGE, noting that, “To ensure the development of our organization, we will use this meeting to reflect on our strategic priorities. This reflection is necessary to enable our organization to respond effectively to the constant changes in our professions and the ongoing transformation of the public sector in our countries, which requires our institutions to possess the skills needed to adapt to these changes.”

FIGE Vice President Mr. Da VEIGA TAVARES began by emphasizing the challenging nature of our mission, which is to serve as guardians of integrity, advocates for transparency, and champions of justice within our institutions.

We are an unstoppable force in search of the truth. “We are united by a common goal: to eradicate corruption, expose injustice, and ensure that public resources are used for the common good,” he emphasized.

The Vice President encouraged FIGE members to share not only their experiences but also their aspirations, saying, “It is up to us to shed light on the dark corners, challenge the status quo, and ensure that the voices of citizens are heard.” “We must be tireless in our quest for the truth and unwavering in our determination to make a difference.”

The Inspector General of the Angolan government stated that FIGE members must embrace change, innovation, and collaboration to address complex challenges and shape a future characterized by uncompromising accountability, unwavering trust, and prevailing justice.

The Comptroller General of the General State Inspectorate of the Republic of the Congo and Chair of the FIGE Steering Committee, Mr. Germain KIAMBA, then took the floor, beginning by expressing his deep appreciation, thanks, and gratitude to the General State Inspectorate of Djibouti, the host institution, for its very warm welcome and for organizing these high-level meetings.

He made a point of thanking the President of the Republic of Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, and his government for making it possible to hold this conference in Djibouti.

The current FIGE President went on to state that FIGE aims to be a key player in the ongoing and forward-looking discussion on public management, and that to achieve this, the activities outlined in the 2019–2025 strategic plan must be finalized.

Given its undeniable growth and expansion through successive accessions and the number of existing and potential partners, there are still unfinished projects, such as the establishment of a documentation center or the harmonization of working and organizational methods, he continued.

The Chair of the Executive Committee welcomed the improved situation of the FIGE Institute following the approval of its amended bylaws at the last FIGE General Assembly in Brazzaville and the validation of its 2023 training plan, which have enabled it to organize valuable training programs for our auditors and those of central government agencies as part of efforts to strengthen their technical and operational capacities.

Mr. Kiamba also urged member institutions to redouble their efforts to enable our respective countries to improve governance by prioritizing the need for our institutions to perform effectively.

He concluded his speech by emphasizing his clear commitment—and that of the Congolese member institutions—to work tirelessly toward achieving FIGE’s objectives while upholding the founding ideals of our organization, which are to unite member institutions, transcending linguistic divides, in a collaborative effort to promote good governance in our respective countries.

Following the various presentations, the members of the Executive Committee reviewed and approved all items on the agenda. The next meeting of the FIGE Executive Committee will take place in Congo-Brazzaville in 2024, prior to the 9th General Assembly, which will be held later that year in Angola.