Djibouti will host senior African auditors, policymakers and international experts this week for a major pan-African forum focused on public governance and technological innovation, as oversight institutions seek to harness digital tools and artificial intelligence to improve accountability and fight corruption.
Under the high patronage of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, the General State Inspectorate of Djibouti will host the 16th meeting of the Steering Committee and the 13th International Colloquium of the Forum of African General State Inspectorates and Related Institutions (FIGE) from Feb. 3 to Feb. 5, according to an official statement.
The meetings coincide with the 20th anniversary of FIGE, which was founded in Djibouti in 2006 and has since established its headquarters in the capital. The forum now brings together 27 national oversight institutions from across Africa.
FIGE aims to strengthen the role and capacity of General State Inspectorates in areas including public auditing, investigations, evaluation of public policies, anti-corruption efforts and the promotion of professional standards adapted to the evolving needs of African states.
This year’s International Colloquium will focus on digital transformation under the theme: “New Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Support of Supreme Audit Institutions, the Fight Against Corruption, and Good Governance.”
Organisers said the discussions reflect the growing pressure on public oversight bodies to adapt to rapid technological change as governments digitise services, expand data collection and deploy artificial intelligence across public administrations.
General State Inspectorates, which function as independent supreme audit and oversight institutions in many African countries, are increasingly seen as central to improving the management of public resources, preventing fraud and illicit practices, and strengthening transparency and performance in government.
“Digital tools, artificial intelligence and big data are profoundly transforming the way public administrations operate,” FIGE said in a statement. “Oversight institutions must integrate these technologies to improve the effectiveness, relevance and impact of their missions.”
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The organisers said new technologies can help audit institutions detect irregularities more efficiently, analyse large volumes of financial and administrative data, and improve the monitoring and evaluation of public policies. At the same time, they raise new challenges related to ethics, data protection and institutional capacity.
The official opening ceremony of the colloquium will take place under the auspices of President Guelleh. Presidents Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal are scheduled to deliver addresses remotely, underscoring the political importance attached to governance and accountability issues across the continent.
More than 80 participants are expected to attend the two-day colloquium, including international experts, senior public officials, heads of oversight institutions, auditors, researchers and practitioners from Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia.
According to the organisers, the event will provide a platform for sharing experiences, best practices and concrete case studies on the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in public oversight. Sessions will focus on innovation in audit methodologies, digital tools for anti-corruption, and strategies to modernise oversight institutions while preserving their independence.
The discussions are expected to produce strategic recommendations and operational perspectives aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of oversight bodies in serving citizens and supporting good governance across African states.
The anniversary celebrations also offer an opportunity to assess FIGE’s two decades of activity. Since its creation, the forum has worked to promote cooperation among African inspectorates, encourage peer learning and support institutional reforms aligned with international standards.
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As African governments face rising public expectations, fiscal pressures and complex development challenges, organisers said the ability of oversight institutions to adapt to technological change will be critical to reinforcing trust in public institutions and ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and transparently.
