Opening of the 15th Session of the Executive Committee of United Cites and Local Governments of Africa, on the fringes of COP22
A series of UCLG Africa’s statutory meetings, co-hosted by the Moroccan Association of the Presidents of Local Government Councils (AMPCC) has been organized on the fringes of COP 22, and launched on Friday 11 November 2016 at the Palmeraie Palace Hotel Marrakesh. The proceedings opened with the 15th meeting of the Executive Committee of the organization.
In his speech Mr. Fouad El Omari, President of AMPCC called upon African mayors to participate in COP 22 and capitalize on the opportunity to defend the interest of their cities in the fight against Climate Change. It was also recognized that with the election of Parks Tau Africa’s role on the global stage had been strengthened and he congratulated Parks Tau on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco.
The President of UCLG Africa, Mr. Khalifa Sall also conveyed his thanks to the authorities of the city of Marrakech, and states that this “characterizes the commitment of Morocco to world governance and he thanked King Mohammed 6 for his constant support for UCLG Africa.
Mr. Sall also states that the “Executive Committee is taking place at a very important moment in the life of the local government movement. Africa is now at the top of the world Organization (United Cities and Local Governments UCLG) and we must ensure that Africa’s local governments are more stable and considered.” He praised Mr. Parks Tau, the new President and Ms. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Mayor of Libreville, who was also elected as world Vice-president representing Africa.
UCLG Africa’s statutory meetings will see the adoption of a new constitution for the Organization, and is the single item on the agenda for the extraordinary General Assembly scheduled for Sunday, 13 November 2016. It will be preceded on Saturday, 12 November by the meeting of the Pan-African Council of UCLG Africa and the meeting of traditional authorities of Africa around their engagement in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The position of participants at these meetings will be one of the features of the Climate Summit for Local and Regional Leaders, on Monday 14 November, and highlights the participation of the African continent.
