The UCLG Pan African Electoral Assembly taking place in Abuja, Nigeria 5 and 6 March has elected a new leadership for the African Section of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments.
The Executive Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo, and the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo, welcomed delegates at the Opening Ceremony.
The Minister of Interior Affairs of Nigeria, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha; the Minister of State, Works, Housing and Urban Development of Nigeria, Grace Ekpiwhre; and the Minister of Local Government of Uganda, Adolf Mwesige; expressed their support for the unity of the Municipal movement in Africa and for the work of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments.
The key note address was delivered by the Former President of the Republic of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, and support statements were put forward by William Cobbett, Director of Cities Alliance, and Alioune Badiane on behalf of UN-Habitat.
The UCLG Global Advisor for African, Richard Kemp was received by the Acting President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.
Gathering representatives of 31 countries from all sub-regions in Africa, the Pan African Electoral Assembly has elected 30 representatives to the Pan African Council and among them 13 members to the Executive Committee. 5 Vice-Presidents have been elected by the respective sub-regional caucuses:
1. Fatahallah Oualalaou, Mayor of Rabat, Morrocco
2. Ibrahim Dakusi Jalo, President of the Local Government Association of Nigerian (ALGON)
3. Muchadeyi Masunda, Mayor of Harare, Zimbabwe
4. Hugues Ngouélondéle, Mayor of Brazaville, Republic of Congo
5. Tarayia Kores, President of the Association of Local Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK)
6. The Assembly further elected by consensus Tarayia Kores as President of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa.
STATEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY
We, the Presidents of Local Government Associations and the Mayors of the African continent, meeting in the Electoral Assembly, 5 and 6 March in Abuja Nigeria under the auspices of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments:
- Taking into account the importance attached to unity by the African municipal movement
- Recognizing the relevant contribution of United Cities and Local Governments to the renewal of the African Section (UCLGA)
- Acknowledging the hospitality offered by the Federal Government of the Republic of Nigeria and of the Local Government Association of Nigerian (ALGON) in the reconciliation process
- Considering the consensus which prevailed as the mean of designation of the members of all the bodies
- Mindful of the depth of the address of the honorable guests of honor, President John Jerry Rawlings, calling for unity, social justice and to respecting the rules of UCLGA,
Welcome the establishment of a new Executive Committee of African Local Governments and express our full support to the newly elected President,
Mandate the above mentioned Executive Committee to engage the voice of local authorities on the Continent in local development,
Ask the Executive Committee to undertake all necessary steps in favor of a full unification of the African municipal movement.
We further strongly recommend the Executive Committee to call its next meeting at the current headquarters in Rabat.
Abuja, Nigeria 6 of March 2010