AMSEP/AASEP: The Public Employment Services (PES) of Africa meeting in conclave in Kinshasa (DRC).

On 18 October, the amphitheatre of the Fleuve Congo Hotel (formerly known as Kempinski) hosted the opening ceremony of the Executive Committee of the African Association of Public Employment Services (AASEP), made up of PES from 19 sub-Saharan African countries. The event was chaired by Mr Jean Jacques Purusi, Director of Cabinet representing Mrs Claudine N’Dusi MKEMBE, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security of the Democratic Republic of Congo. High-level political and administrative figures and numerous guests were also present.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by 3 speeches, notably the welcome address by the ONEM Director General, Dr Angélique Kikudi, by Mr Ibrahim Ag Nock, President of AASEP and WAPES Vice President for the African Region and finally by the opening words of the representative of the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Welfare, Mrs Claudine N’Dusi Mkembe.

The countries participating in this ordinary session of the AASEP Executive Committee are Benin, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Chad.

During two (2) days (18-19 October), the experts from these different countries will work on important issues including the review and adoption of projects to create a common digital platform for PES members called the African Intermediation Boulevard (BAI), a training centre for Employment Advisors and a programme for the development and promotion of Green Jobs.

In his speech, the President of AASEP thanked the highest authorities, the government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo for their warm welcome and their legendary hospitality widely renowned. He placed particular emphasis on the importance of these meetings for his organisation, which can be considered an emanation of the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) for the African Region. He therefore appealed to his fellow Directors General and all participants to ensure that this Executive Committee meeting would be a real success and a decisive turning point for the future in terms of adapting to the many challenges facing our countries in combating unemployment, and in particular youth unemployment.

Beforehand, the National Anthem of the DRC was sung by the audience and a one-minute silence was observed in memory of the colleagues who have disappeared in the meantime and all the civilian and military victims who have fallen on the field of honour following the conflicts that have raged in certain countries of the continent, notably in the east of the DRC, in Mali and elsewhere.

Bréhima SIDIBE, ANPE Mali