FSLTA - Forum of traditional rulers and chiefs of Africa

Aims and Objectives

The FSLTA aims to:

• Strengthening the institution of traditional leadership in Africa
• Improving the participation of sovereigns and traditional leaders in governance processes
• Promoting dialogue and exchange of experiences between African traditional authorities
• Tackling common challenges such as crime, conflict and instability

Role and importance

Traditional authorities in Africa:

• They play a significant role in the social, political and economic life of local communities
• They act as intermediaries between the state and communities, influencing the distribution of public goods and the representation of citizens' demands
• They can have an impact on development by coordinating local collective action, mediating conflicts and overseeing land rights

Activities and Initiatives

The FSLTA organises:

• Interactive forums to rethink the crucial role of traditional rulers in the political and democratic landscape of the continent
• High-level sessions and case study analyses to address critical issues
• Study visits and collaborative learning exchanges with institutions such as the Rwanda Parliament Museum

Challenges and opportunities

The forum aims to address:

• The weak synergy between state authorities and traditional institutions in many African countries
• The need for continued engagement with this important level of leadership to clarify their statutory roles and responsibilities towards citizens and national development
• The potential of traditional authorities as a strategy to fight crime, criminality and ensure stability

In conclusion, the FSLTA provides an important platform to enhance the role of African traditional authorities and promote their contribution to sustainable development and peace on the continent.

Who is the FSLTA Representative?

The chief representative of the Forum of Sovereigns and Traditional Chiefs of Africa (FSLTA) is: King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais

He serves as secretary general of the FSLTA. King Tchiffi Zie is originally from the Ivory Coast and is the ruler of the Krou community.

Some relevant details about King Tchiffi Zie and his role in the FSLTA:

• He is engaged in diplomatic missions in Europe to promote the objectives of the Forum
• He is working on the creation of a 'parliament of diasporas' to represent the 370 million Africans living outside the continent
• The African Union has entrusted him with the role of 'president of the diasporas'.
• It is responsible for organising African diaspora communities in the various European countries

Its efforts focus on enhancing the contribution of African diasporas to the continent's development and on strengthening ties between African communities abroad and their countries of origin.

Recognised by the African Union

The Forum of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs of Africa (FSLTA) has gained important recognition from the African Union (AU) in recent years:

Official recognition

The FSLTA was officially recognised by the African Union during the February AU summit. This represents a significant step for the Forum, which brings together more than 1,500 African tribes.

Role of diasporas

The African Union has entrusted the FSLTA, in the person of its secretary-general King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais, with an important role regarding African diasporas:

• King Tchiffi Zie was appointed 'president of the diasporas' by the AU
• He was given a mandate to 'flesh out' the diaspora, considered the 'sixth region' of Africa in addition to the five geographical regions
• The aim is to organise and structure African diaspora communities in the various countries

Objectives of the collaboration

Through this recognition, the AU and the FSLTA aim to:

• Valuing the contribution of African diasporas (around 370 million people) to the continent's development
• Creating a 'parliament of diasporas' to represent Africans living outside the continent9
• Promoting the participation of diasporas in the development of the countries where they reside
• Helping to combat irregular immigration

This recognition therefore marks an important step in the integration of traditional authorities and African diasporas into the continent's governance and development processes, in line with the objectives of the African Union.

In che modo il FSLTA influenza le politiche africane?

Il Forum dei sovrani e dei capi tradizionali d’Africa (FSLTA) esercita un’influenza significativa sulle politiche africane in diversi modi:

Rafforzamento del ruolo delle autorità tradizionali

Il FSLTA mira a:

• Potenziare il ruolo delle autorità tradizionali nei processi di governance
• Promuovere il dialogo e lo scambio di esperienze tra i leader tradizionali africani
• Valorizzare il contributo delle istituzioni tradizionali allo sviluppo sostenibile e alla pace nel continente

Mediazione tra stato e comunità

Le autorità tradizionali rappresentate nel FSLTA:

• Fungono da intermediari tra i governi e le comunità locali
• Influenzano la distribuzione di beni pubblici e la rappresentanza delle richieste dei cittadini
• Coordinano l’azione collettiva locale e mediano i conflitti

Impatto sullo sviluppo e la stabilità

Il FSLTA promuove il ruolo delle autorità tradizionali nel:

• Supervisionare i diritti sulla terra
• Affrontare sfide come criminalità e instabilità
• Contribuire allo sviluppo economico e sociale delle comunità

Influenza sulle politiche nazionali e continentali

Il Forum:

• Organizza incontri di alto livello per discutere questioni critiche per il continente
• Promuove una maggiore sinergia tra autorità statali e istituzioni tradizionali
• Cerca di chiarire i ruoli statutari e le responsabilità dei leader tradizionali verso i cittadini

Promozione di una governance inclusiva

Il FSLTA incoraggia:

• Una maggiore partecipazione delle autorità tradizionali nei processi decisionali
• Il riconoscimento del ruolo delle istituzioni tradizionali nelle costituzioni e nelle leggi nazionali
• L’integrazione della leadership tradizionale nelle strutture di governance moderne