From March 23 to 25, 2026, Nouakchott in Mauritania hosted the Elective General Assembly of the pan-African organisation, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). Held under the auspices of the Nouakchott Region, which had held the presidency since 2022, the meeting provided an opportunity to review the past term and elect new leadership for the next three years.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mohamed Ahmed Lemine, Mauritania’s Minister of the Interior, Decentralisation, and Local Development. The ceremony brought together a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, including the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Abdallahi Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidiya, as well as the Deputy Minister for Decentralisation, Yacoub Salem Vall. Also present were members of UCLG Africa from the continent’s five regions, the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives from UCLG World and international partners (UNDP, GIZ, UNFPA).
In his opening remarks, the Minister of the Interior emphasised that the assembly is part of an effort to strengthen inter-African cooperation, while highlighting the crucial role of local governments in the continent’s governance. He also noted that Mauritania’s decentralisation strategy is based on major institutional and legal reforms designed to bring the administration closer to citizens and increase the effectiveness of public action.
The President of UCLG Africa and the Nouakchott Region, Ms. Fatimetou Abdelmalick, reviewed the achievements of her term, which was marked by efforts to restore the organisation’s administrative and financial health.
“The journey has been demanding and fraught with considerable challenges. However, thanks to the collective will and unwavering commitment of our teams, we have been able to restore the necessary balance and put the organisation back on a stable and constructive path. This success would not have been possible without the support of Morocco, the Mauritanian authorities, and the favourable political climate currently prevailing on the African continent with regard to decentralisation,” she said.
For his part, Bamba Ould Dermane, president of the Association of Mayors of Mauritania, emphasised that the conference is taking place at a time of major climate, economic, and security challenges. In the face of rapid urbanisation, he stressed the leading role of local governments in developing tailored, community-based solutions.
Echoing this sentiment, the UNDP Resident Representative in Mauritania, Mansour Ndiaye, noted that the meeting is taking place in an international climate marked by persistent development challenges. To this end, he reaffirmed the strategic importance of decentralised cooperation and the territorialisation of public policies.
Participants attended a high-level panel discussion titled: “City Diplomacy and Cross-Border Cooperation in the Context of Multifaceted Crises.” Moderated by Mr. François Menguélé, the new Secretary General of UCLG Africa, this discussion brought together Mr. Sidi Khalifa, Permanent Secretary of the Association of Mayors of Mauritania; Mr. Chakir Mohammed, from Morocco’s General Directorate of Local Authorities (DGCT); and Mr. Elroy Africa, an expert advisor on decentralisation and integrated border management (speaking via videoconference).
The panelists demonstrated that cross-border cooperation is an essential extension of state diplomacy, particularly in the face of security, climate, and migration crises. On this occasion, Morocco’s experience was highlighted through the African Fund for Support to International Decentralised Cooperation (FACDI). This major financial mechanism supports South-South cooperation projects between the Kingdom’s local authorities and their counterparts across the continent.
Elections
The second day of the meeting was devoted to the renewal of UCLG Africa’s governing bodies. Delegates proceeded to elect the members of the Pan-African Council (45 members), the Financial Management Committee (five members), the Executive Committee (15 members, plus three ex officio members from the REFELA, YELO, and FORAF networks), and the Presidency (five members).
As guests of honour at the event, the President of the global organisation (UCLG), Mr. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya (Turkey), and the Secretary General of UCLG World, Ms. Emilia Saiz, sent messages of support to the Africa Chapter. They reaffirmed the continent’s central role within the global organisation, while inviting the new leadership of UCLG Africa to actively participate in the World Congress, scheduled to take place in Tangier (Morocco) from June 23 to 26, 2026.
The Association of Mayors of Senegal (AMS) has been elected to the head of UCLG Africa presidency. Represented by its president, Mr. Oumar Ba, the AMS is beginning a three-year term. This new leadership was appointed by consensus by all members.
Composition of the new Presidency
The presidency is supported by five regional vice-presidencies, distributed as follows:
- West Africa: Association of Mayors of Senegal (Senegal)
- Central Africa: United Communes and Cities of Cameroon (CVUC)
- East Africa: Kisumu County (Kenya)
- Southern Africa: Mazabuka City Council (Zambia)
- North Africa: Nouakchott Region (Mauritania)
Network Elections
- YELO (Network of Young Local Elected Officials in Africa): The municipality of Haouza, represented by its mayor, Mr. Sidi Alal Boussid, was elected to lead the network.
- REFELA (Network of Local Elected Women of Africa): The network proposed postponing the election of its leadership by one month. A meeting will be held for this purpose in late April 2026, in the region of the new President of UCLG Africa.
- FORAF (Forum of African Regions): The Forum of African Regions also decided to postpone the selection of its leadership to a later date.
African Candidates for UCLG Global Bodies
In preparation for the renewal of UCLG World’s leadership, the following candidates have been officially nominated to represent the African continent:
- UCLG World Co-Presidency: Mr. Bheki Stofile (President of SALGA, South Africa).
- UCLG World Treasurer: Ms. Fatiha El Moudni (Mayor of Rabat, Morocco).
- Chair of the Gender Commission: Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick (President of the Nouakchott Region, Mauritania).
- Vice-Chair of the Africa Section of UCLG World: Mr. Amadou Koné (UVICOCI, Côte d’Ivoire).
The new president of UCLG Africa chaired the organisation’s first Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. In his inaugural address, Mr. Oumar Ba expressed his deep gratitude to his peers and issued a solemn call for unity and teamwork.
“We are counting on everyone’s commitment. UCLG Africa now occupies a strategic position within the institutional architecture, both at the continental and global levels. Our top priority is to preserve these fundamental achievements. Next, we will focus on strengthening integration across the continent’s various regions,” he stated.
At this first meeting of the Executive Committee, a motion of recognition was adopted in honor of Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick. In recognition of her exemplary leadership, the outgoing president was elevated to the rank of President Emeritus of the organisation.
A heartfelt tribute to Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi
One of the highlights of this General Assembly was the series of tributes paid to Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, the outgoing Secretary General, for his unwavering commitment to the African and global municipal movement over the past two decades. Expressions of deep gratitude were offered by the Executive Committee, the Culture Commission of UCLG Africa, the Secretary General of UCLG World, and his successor as Secretary General.
All paid tribute to the legacy of a visionary whose work has left a lasting mark on the territorial architecture of the continent.