President, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), Madam Fatimetou Abdel Malick, has described decentralisation movement on the continent as irreversible.
She made the submission in Saïdia, Morocco, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, during the opening of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF).
“Decentralisation is now an irreversible movement in Africa. An increasing number of African countries have established a second level of governance between the national and local levels,” she said in a statement delivered during the opening of the three-day event.
Decentralisation implies the transfer of control of an activity or organisation to several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
Madam Mbarka Bouaida, President of Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM), said: “The presence at this first edition of our Forum of representatives of so many African countries, is the recent expression of our common belonging to the great African family. It reflects our commitment to our natural, geographical and political roots.”
Mr. Mohamed Faouzi, Secretary General of Ministry of Interior, who represented the Minister of Interior of Morocco, said: “The objective of this Forum is to achieve a vision that can define a framework for African citizens; a framework that meets the needs of the people, without compromising the needs of the future generations; a framework to enable regional officials to build Africa by, and for Africans.”
Mr. Abdennabi Bioui, President of Oriental Region, recalled: “The idea of creation the Forum of African Regions was born here, in our region, our land. This land connects the present to the past and anticipates the future with a spirit that understands that the goals of liberation from colonialism are the same as the goals of sustainable development, considering that, at the end, in both cases, the objective is to achieve African development.”
Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, UCLG Africa Secretary General, expressed the hope that “through the discussions and deliberations that will be held during these two days we will be able to realise how much we can and should do to change the face of our continent, by commencing to plant the seeds leading to the emergence of the Africa of the Peoples beyond the Africa of the National States that is the Africa We Want”.
Launched under The High Patronage of His Majesty The King Mohammed VI, the first edition of the FORAF is organised by UCLG Africa, in collaboration with ARM, the Council of the Oriental Region (CRO) and the Directorate General of Territorial Collectivities (DGCT) of the Ministry of the Interior of the Kingdom of Morocco.
The official ceremony held in the presence of over 400 delegates, even as the proceedings are centered around the theme: “The contribution of Regional Governments to the sustainable development and to the dynamics of integration of Africa”.
The second day of the Forum on Friday, September 9, focuses on the discussion of the roadmap of the FORAF and the election of FORAF office bearers.
