Dakar, Dec 2 (APS) – A three-day congress opened in Dakar on Monday to discuss “endogenous African constitutionalism and the empirical approach” in order to develop legal and political models rooted in the cultural, historical and social realities of the continent, noted the APS.
The meeting is organized by the African Constitutional Law Network (RADC), on the theme: “Towards an endogenous African constitutionalism and a legitimate governance system: epistemological and empirical perspectives”.
Several themes are addressed in panel form. “Past, present and future of legitimate government and democratic constitutionalism in Africa, perspective of the executive and legislature: legitimate governance, democracy and constitutionalism in Africa” are among these themes.
The objective is to move towards an endogenous and legitimate African constitutionalism, through a reconciliation between traditions and modernity.
“By integrating cultural heritage into governance systems, Africa could establish more robust institutions, adapted to its specificities, and capable of guaranteeing lasting stability,” explain the panelists.
They emphasize that “the debate on African constitutionalism highlights the need to develop legal and political models rooted in the cultural, historical and social realities of the continent”.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf recalled in this regard that “endogenous constitutionalism is not content to copy foreign models, but seeks to draw on our traditions, our African values and realities, to develop governance systems that truly reflect our aspirations and identities.”
According to him, it is “imperative that our legal texts, our institutions and our curricula are anchored in our socio-cultural context”.
Epistemologically, he says, African constitutionalism “needs to be studied and taught through an approach that values our heritage and our contributions to global work.”
“Our universities have a vital role to play in this process, by integrating African perspectives into our academic programs. We are cultivating a new generation of lawyers and leaders who are not only competent, but also deeply rooted in African quality and culture,” he noted.
He emphasizes that on an empirical level, “it is essential to document and analyze the constitutional practices that have emerged on our continent”. In this regard, he believes that “our varied experiences offer a wealth of lessons and strategies that can guide our future reforms”.
AFD/ASG/MTN
