Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Loic Ntoutoume
Published on 2024-04-01 17:05:36
During a recent meeting of the Association of Mayors of Gabon (AMG), the special delegate in charge of the municipality of Libreville, General Judes Ibrahim Rapontchombo, made a passionate appeal to Gabonese municipalities, emphasizing the urgency for them to honor their financial commitments to international organizations of which they are members. This has potential consequences for their influence on the international stage.
In a context of political transition, where every action is crucial to maintain Gabon’s voice on the international stage, General Judes Ibrahim Rapontchombo emphasized the crucial importance of contributions to international organizations, particularly Cities and Local Governments United in Africa (CGLU-A) and the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF). These financial contributions are the cornerstone of the international presence of Gabonese municipalities, ensuring their active participation in the activities and programs of these organizations.
“My dear colleagues, for the AMG to achieve its objectives, it is up to us to contribute. Because without contributions, an association like ours could not develop and succeed, despite the financial assistance or subsidies we could seek. We must be up to date with our contributions to the AMG and other international organizations, and honor our commitments to make our voices heard, express our expectations, and strengthen our position internationally,” General Judes Ibrahim Rapontchombo reminded.
Furthermore, the special delegate emphasized the importance of funding to promote effective decentralized cooperation. He also pointed out that the grants and technical support programs offered by these international organizations are valuable tools to support local development and strengthen the capacities of Gabonese municipalities.
Therefore, the advocacy for strengthening Gabon’s international presence is not limited to symbolic participation but also relies on concrete financial contributions from member municipalities. This approach aims to ensure that Gabonese municipalities can fully take advantage of the opportunities offered by decentralized cooperation and play an active role in international discussions and initiatives in support of local development.
“I advocate for Gabon to return to the Executive Board of the International Association of Francophone Mayors, despite the financial difficulties our municipalities are facing. We must not discredit ourselves in their eyes. It is essential for Gabon to be present and participate as the municipalities of West African countries, who as one, are always present on the international stage,” he concluded firmly.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
