“Decentralization is now an irreversible movement in Africa, and the fact that an increasing number of African countries have established a second level of governance between the national level and the local level is a sign that the principle of subsidiarity is gradually anchoring itself in the governance of public affairs in Africa”, she underlined in her speech at the opening of the 1st Forum of African Regions (FORAF).
She indicated, in this sense, that this meeting aims to network and structure this intermediate level of Territorial Communities that constitute the regions on a pan-African scale, within the framework of UCLG Africa, so that this organization properly reflects the diversity of configurations of decentralization, while strengthening its representativeness as the unified voice of the African Territories.
“The diversity of the levels of Territorial Authorities, far from being a handicap, must on the contrary be considered as an opportunity insofar as it allows our Organization to be truly representative of the entire spectrum of the 16,000 communities currently comprising UCLG Africa,” added Ms. Mint Abdel Malick, also president of the Nouakchott region in Mauritania.
She noted, however, that only a third of Africans, so far, have the privilege of living within a community with legal personality and financial autonomy, and that an even smaller number have the privilege of electing the leaders of their community.
“We still have a lot of work to do so that the battle of decentralization is won on our continent, and we have the duty, as pioneers, to consolidate this dynamic of decentralization,” she said.
For the president of UCLG Africa, this meeting offers the opportunity to prove that intermediate-level Territorial Communities are real development agents contributing to the production of wealth, job creation, social cohesion and affirmation of the identity and authenticity of territories.
This Forum also confirms the commitment of regional governments to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, the climate agenda, and the 2063 agenda of the African Union, as well as all policies and associated strategies, she noted.
And to add that this first edition of FORAF should also make it possible to adopt the internal regulations of this platform and elect the members of its governance bodies, who will represent this level of communities within the pan-African organization of UCLG. Africa and within the Forum of Regions at the level of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments.
Organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, by the Association of Regions of Morocco (ARM), in collaboration with UCLG Africa and the Oriental Regional Council (CRO) and the support of the Ministry of the Interior ( Directorate General of Territorial Communities -DGCT-), this first FORAF meeting has the theme “The contribution of Regional Communities to sustainable development and the integration dynamic of Africa”.
During this event, the constitutive General Assembly of FORAF will be held as a governance body within UCLG Africa which will allow member Regions to work together for the development and integration of the ‘Africa.