African Parliamentary Monitoring Conference Ends in Pretoria; Naymote Pushes Liberia Legislature to Embrace Openness and Accountability

Pretoria, South Africa – The 5th African Parliamentary Engagement and Monitoring Organizations (PEMO) Conference concluded in Pretoria, South Africa, from 16–19 September 2025, bringing together 80 participants from 21 African countries. The conference provided a platform to reflect on democratic progress and renew strategies for effective collaboration between parliaments and civil society organizations.

Organized by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), the hybrid conference featured plenary sessions, topical discussions, and learning briefs under the theme “Back on Track: Renewing the Dialogue Between Legislatures and Civil Society.” Delegates from Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa engaged in multilingual, solution-focused dialogue in English, French, and Portuguese.

Hon. Yvonne Dausab, former Namibian Minister of Justice, delivered the keynote address, urging participants to strengthen their efforts to promote openness and accountability in times of unprecedented democratic challenges. The President of the Pan-African Parliament, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, underscored the importance of civil society in advancing parliamentary transparency. He encouraged participants to engage with their national representatives at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), explore PAP’s digital platforms, and take advantage of opportunities for dialogue and reform.

The conference highlighted the value of active citizenship and open parliaments, providing participants with strategies, resources, and best practices for monitoring parliamentary activities. Regional action plans were developed to enhance engagement and oversight across Africa.

One of the key contributions came from Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, represented by Executive Director Eddie D. Jarwolo. Naymote shared the institution’s decade-long experience in Liberia promoting democratic accountability, including the development of a practical legislative engagement guide that was well received by participants. The guide consolidates lessons learned, successful advocacy strategies, and proven practices in citizen engagement.

The conference also marked the establishment of the Mano River Union Parliamentary Monitoring Group (MRU-PMG), aimed at strengthening parliamentary openness in Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Liberia. The group, led by Jeremy Ben Simbo of Sierra Leone’s Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, will develop monitoring tools, support civic participation, and promote transparency across the region.

Speaking on lessons learned, Jarwolo emphasized the importance of building trust with legislative committees, strengthening partnerships, and integrating digital platforms, civic technology, and artificial intelligence into governance tracking and advocacy. He announced that Naymote will expand collaboration with partners in Morocco and Uganda to enhance capacity in cybersecurity, civic tech, and artificial intelligence for governance tracking, etc.

Drawing from the discussions, Jarwolo called on the Liberian Legislature to adopt new measures to improve openness and accountability. Recommendations included establishing a “Monthly Talk with the Speaker” program to educate citizens on legislative activities, creating a Citizens’ Bureau to institutionalize engagement between lawmakers and civil society, and ensuring that Liberian representatives to ECOWAS and the Pan-African Parliament share regular updates with citizens.

“The strength of national parliaments directly influences the effectiveness of regional and continental institutions,” Jarwolo stated. “Liberia has an opportunity to lead by example in building a legislature that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to its people.”