African regions more present than ever in ORU Fogar

As 2024 draws to a close, ORU Fogar has significantly increased its membership, especially with many African regions. At its annual assembly, ORU Fogar welcomed with great satisfaction a new Ecuadorian member: the Autonomous Provincial Government of Guayas. The provinces of Ecuador have always been very present in ORU Fogar, since the prefect Paúl Carrasco was president of the organisation. The coastal province -with Guayaquil as its capital- had never, however, been part of the organisation. Nevertheless, it has been the African regions that have joined ORU Fogar in the largest numbers. 

At the annual assembly, regions from Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Mozambique and Côte d'Ivoire definitively joined the organisation. From Mali, the regions of Koulikoro, Mopti and the District of Bamako joined the organisation. From Senegal, the Union of Associations of Local Elected Officials of Senegal and the Department of Tivaouane. Cameroon has added the regional councils of Adamaoua and the East, and from Mozambique, the Region of Inhambane. In Mali, Senegal and Cameroon, already had a significant presence in ORU Fogar. Inhmabane, however, is the first region of the Portuguese-speaking country to join the organisation. It should be noted that this region's membership was requested by Governor Daniel Chapo who, at the time of writing, has ceased to be Governor and has become President of Mozambique. 

Of these incorporations, it is worth highlighting that, following the ‘Call of Abidjan’, five regions of Côte d'Ivoire (Tonkpi, Gontougo, Iffou, Gboklé and N'zi) have joined ORU Fogar. This agreement, the ‘Call of Abidjan’, signed in April between the presidents of ORU Fogar, Rachid el Abdi, and of the Assembly of Regions and Districts of Côte d'Ivoire (ARDCI), Eugpene Aka Aouelé, committed to promote the integration of all the regions of the country into ORU Fogar, thus fostering solidarity and interregional collaboration, and strengthening their representation. 

Thanks to this massive incorporation of African regions and associations, ORU Fogar continues to move towards a more inclusive and balanced global integration, where African regions have more and more weight and visibility in the international arena.