The Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) today joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Democracy, observed annually on 15 September. This year’s theme, “Raising Hands and Voices – Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy,” calls on governance institutions worldwide to create more meaningful avenues for citizens to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
As an indigenous inter-parliamentary body aimed at fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among Africa’s legislative leadership, CoSPAL regards the 2026 theme as a timely affirmation of the role that legislative leaders must play in deepening democratic participation across Africa.
Speaking on the significance of the Day, the Secretary-General of CoSPAL, Amb. ‘Dapo Oyewole, said:
“Democracy is not merely the act of voting; it is the everyday practice of being heard. On this International Day of Democracy, CoSPAL reaffirms its conviction to strengthen legislative leadership and enhance parliamentary diplomacy. Deliberative democracy demands that legislative leaders listen first and legislate with the people, not merely for them.”
CoSPAL further underscored the value of parliamentary diplomacy in translating the principles of the International Day of Democracy into continental practice, noting that sustained dialogue, cooperation and coordination among African legislative leaders is essential to sharing best practices, harmonising democratic standards, and confronting shared governance challenges with a unified voice.
Reflecting on this, the Secretary-General stated:
“Enhanced parliamentary diplomacy allows Africa’s legislative leaders to learn from one another, to speak with one voice on the continent’s development aspirations, and to demonstrate that cooperation is itself a form of deliberative democracy in action. As we mark this Day, CoSPAL renews its commitment to fostering the kind of legislative solidarity that puts citizens, their agency and their ownership of governance, at the very centre of Africa’s democratic project.”
CoSPAL calls on member parliaments, regional partners and stakeholders across the continent to use the occasion of the International Day of Democracy to reflect on concrete steps toward more participatory, transparent and citizen-centred legislative processes.
