Seychelles takes presidency of the AP-COI at the plenary session in Mauritius |29 May 2025
The National Assembly delegation: (l to r) Hon. Monthy, deputy Clerk Faure, Speaker Mancienne and Hon. Sultan
Seychelles takes presidency of the AP-COI at the plenary session in Mauritius
A delegation from the National Assembly of Seychelles, headed by Speaker Roger Mancienne, attended the Plenary Sessions of the ‘L’Association des Parlements des Etats Membres de la Commission de l’ocean Indien’ (AP-COI) in Ebene, Mauritius at the Indian Ocean Commission’s headquarters from May 22 to 23, 2025.
The Speaker was accompanied by Hons. Philip Monthy, Valdana Sultan, and the deputy Clerk Alexandria Faure. The plenary sessions were organised by the ‘Commission de l'océan Indien’ (COI) in collaboration with the National Assembly of Mauritius. The AP-COI falls under the ‘projet gouvernance, paix et stabilite’ (GPS) of the COI which is funded by the ‘Agence Française de Development’ (AFD) with the aim to support the reinforcement and implementation of the project by strengthening capacities of its members to promote stability, advocacy and peace in the Indian Ocean region.
The plenary sessions were officially opened by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius and President of the AP-COI, Hon. Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, and the Secretary General of the COI, Edgard Razafindravahy, and were attended by Parliamentarians, Clerks, deputy Clerks and Parliamentary officials from the Legislatures of the Union of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Important discussions on the internal structures of the AP-COI going forward took place, including matters concerning the establishment of meetings of Clerk and deputy Clerks in the margins of the statutory meetings, the functioning of the different organs of the association and other events of the GPS project involving the validation of the comparative study of the Parliaments and the ‘peer-to-peer mission’, which is to be combined with the exchange of Women in the Indian Ocean Policy Platform on the development of women, youth and thematic networks within the AP-COI.
The member states also discussed the structures and roadmaps on the ways in which the AP-COI can provide a framework of assistance for the continuous development of the ‘Parlement Régional des Jeunes de l'Indianocéanie’ (PRJIO) which was officially launched in Seychelles in April 2025.
In addition to the evaluation of thematic areas of the declaration of 2023, the members of AP-COI accepted the observer status to the ‘L'Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie’ (APF). The way forward will involve the consolidation of concrete propositions for the long-term funding and establishment of the AP-COI which will be considered before the end of 2025 under the presidency of Seychelles.
During the closure of the sessions, the Presidency of the AP-COI was officially transferred from Mauritius to Seychelles with utmost appreciation conveyed to Hon. Aumeeruddy-Cziffra for her contributions and tenure.
The new members of the Executive Committee were also nominated with Hon. Philip Monthy (Seychelles), Hon. Befeno Todimanana Hyacinthe (Madagascar), Hon. Mariama Ahamada Msa (Comoros), and Hon. Babita Thannoo (Mauritius) confirmed in their roles.
Hon. Mancienne expressed his appreciation and honour to accept this responsibility and highlighted the importance of the continuation of collaboration for the achievement of many of the discussions that have taken place over the two days of plenary sessions and during the past two years since the revival of the association.
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