The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal and of the Senegalese Abroad, Mr. Alioune Badara Cisse, chaired on Tuesday, 24 July 2012 at 03.00pm, at the conference room of the Ministry, the presentation ceremony of the next Africities summit to the diplomatic corps accredited in Dakar. Attended the meeting, the Minister of Planning and Local Government, Mr. Cheikh Bamba Dieye; the Mayor of Dakar, the Summit’s host city, Mr. Khalifa Sall; the President of the Association of Mayors of Senegal, Mr.Abdoulaye Balde; the Secretary General of United Cities and local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi; and the national coordinator of Africities, Mr. Daby Diagne. A press conference was held at the end of the official presentation with the participation of national and international media.

   In his welcome address, the mayor of Dakar emphasized the advocacy and mobilization efforts that the City of Dakar and the local and national governments of Senegal expect from the diplomatic corps and the international cooperation agencies toward local and national governments, private sector operators, professionals and academics from their respective countries, in favor of this unique rendez-vous of the first week of December 2012 in Dakar. Indeed, from  4th to 8th December 2012, Dakar will host not only the Africities Summit, but also the meetings of the Executive Bureau and World Council of the United Cites and Local Governments (UCLG), the world organization of local and regional governments, as well as the international meeting of the New Cities Foundation, which brings together major global private groups involved in infrastructure and urban services. The Mayor of Dakar concluded his address as follows: "It goes without saying that such a challenge can be met only through the participation of all compentencies, all authorities, Senegalese and from abroad, which may by one way or another, contribute to the success of this Summit "

   Mr. Abdoulaye Balde has first reminded the theme chosen for this Summit, "Building Africa from its territory: what challenges for local governments? ". The purpose in choosing this theme "is to highlight the importance of local governments in the emergence of Africa of the Peoples, beyond Africa of the States, through the local authorities’ diplomacy which strengthens and consolidates the achievements of classical diplomacy.

   "   The Africities Summit said Mr. Cheikh Bamba Dieye "is certainly a Pan African event but it has a global dimension due to the involvement of different development partners and funders in its organization." The summit will host nearly 5,000 participants and its Exhibition will offer nearly ten thousand square meters of stands. An event of this magnitude requires great rigor in its organization to ensure success.

   Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi described in more details the events taking place during Africities with particular highlight on the special events which are the meetings of African mayors and local authorities  with their counterparts from Brazil, China and Turkey, respectively. He also mentioned the two roundtables that will take place during Africities. The first one on Dec. 4, 2012 following the official opening ceremony, on the role of Africa in the world today and tomorrow, with the participation of Nobel Prize laureates. The second one, will be held on Dec.7, 2012 following the opening of the political segment of the Summit. It will be about the dynamics of integration and unity of Africa, with the participation of former Heads of State. In addition, the Summit will also be the framework of the UCLG Africa general assembly that will renew its governing bodies, and that of the Network of Local Elected Women of Africa, which will appoint its new leadership. Mr. Elong Mbassi lastly mentioned the innovation introduced in Dakar with the establishment of a Scientific Committee composed of academics and researchers from Senegal who are already mobilized in the summit's preparation and whose action shall continue after the Summit through the creation of a School of Dakar. The latter will impulse the reflection and take initiatives in order to achieve the desire to see the local governments play a greater role in the dynamics of integration and the unity of Africa.

   In his speech to the diplomatic corps, Mr. Alioune Badara Cisse reminded the importance that the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Mr. Macky Sall, is granting the decentralization policy. This willingness to see the territorial authorities play a greater role in the development and integration of the continent must be manifested in the creation of a High Council of Local Governments within the African Union, as he has proposed during the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union which has just been held in mid July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Minister Badara Cisse emphasized that Africities Dakar is now an event included in the official calendar of the State of Senegal and is supported by the President of the Republic and the Government. Africities Summit in Dakar has as guest of honor, the Kingdom of Morocco, and as special guests Brazil, China and Turkey. The Minister Badara Cisse also informed the diplomatic corps that His Majesty the King of Morocco has confirmed his presence at the Summit in response to the invitation that was made by the President of the Republic of Senegal, and that he has committed to provide his support for the success of this Summit. Minister Badara Cisse has reiterated his invitation to the diplomatic corps to raise awareness among the actors of decentralization in their respective organizations and countries for them to participate in this event which will mark undoubtedly a turning point in the contribution of local authorities in the development, integration and unity of Africa. He also assured that "no effort will be spared at the Senegal level, and I hope among friends, for Africities Dakar to be an outstanding success."

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