The Chadian capital, N'Djamena, is hosting the 63rd meeting of the Steering Committee of the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) from November 2 to 6, 2026. This continental gathering is historic as it coincides with the launch of celebrations for the organization's 50th anniversary. AFROSAI was founded in 1976 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A press conference was held by three high-ranking African officials: Zara Ibrahim Mahamat Itno, President of the Court of Accounts of Chad; Nancy Gathungu, Auditor General of Kenya and First Vice-President of AFROSAI; and Zineb El Adaoui, First President of the Court of Accounts of Morocco and Secretary General of AFROSAI.
The press conference highlighted that two technical commissions have been meeting in N'Djamena since November 2. The first commission, on organizational capacity building, is chaired by the Court of Accounts of Chad and focuses on governance, leadership, transparency, and performance improvement of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). The second commission, on institutional and technical capacity building, is led by the SAI of Kenya and deals with auditor competency development, harmonization of audit practices with international standards, and new public finance management challenges.
The conclusions of these two commissions will be consolidated and submitted to the Steering Committee for examination and validation. The official AFROSAI program confirms that the meeting is preceded by several technical meetings, including those of the organizational and institutional capacity-building commissions. The formal opening ceremony of the 63rd Steering Committee meeting took place on November 4, under the high patronage of Chadian Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
Following the ceremony, statutory discussions focused on examining reports from various AFROSAI organs, evaluating the implementation of the 2022-2027 strategic plan, reviewing the budget and work prospects for 2026-2027, and reports from specialized commissions. Nancy Gathungu, Auditor General of Kenya and First Vice-President of AFROSAI, praised the welcome given to African delegations by President Zara Ibrahim Mahamat Itno and Chadian authorities.
Gathungu emphasized that African SAIs meet in a context marked by increasing budgetary pressures, rising public debt, climate change risks, and growing demand for transparency from citizens. She stressed that effective accountability institutions are not mere control bodies but strategic partners in promoting good governance, strengthening public trust, fighting corruption, and ensuring public spending yields concrete results for populations.
Zineb El Adaoui, First President of the Court of Accounts of Morocco and Secretary General of AFROSAI, highlighted the presence of women at the head of AFROSAI's main bodies, noting that three women are in key positions. She presented the N'Djamena meeting as an exceptional session with three major stakes, including the closure of the 2022-2025 strategic process, evaluation of its implementation, and identification of necessary improvements.
El Adaoui acknowledged difficulties in securing funding due to decreased international financing and announced a new approach, where AFROSAI will present concrete projects to partners like the IMF, World Bank, USAID, and IDI. She emphasized the credibility of SAIs as expertise, objectivity, and independence bodies, distant from political pressure and interest networks. El Adaoui concluded that SAIs are not mere technical bodies but are crucial for citizens to feel the benefits of growth and public policies.
Key points
- AFROSAI marks its 50th anniversary with its 63rd Steering Committee meeting in N'Djamena, Chad.
- The meeting focuses on strategic plan implementation, budget review, and capacity building for Supreme Audit Institutions.
- Women play key roles in AFROSAI's leadership, with three female officials at the helm of the organization.
