The Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA, is leading the Cameroonian delegation to the fifth edition of the Pan-African Local Government Days (Africities 5). The Moroccan city of Marrakech will, from 16 to 20 December 2009, host this major triennial event of the decentralization agenda in Africa.

The Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, wishes to inform the national and international community that, on the very high instructions of the President of the Republic, Cameroon will, from 16 to 20 December 2009, in Marrakech, attend the deliberations of the Fifth Edition of the Pan-African Local Government Days (AFRICITIES 5).

The central theme of this major continental Summit is: ‘African Regional and Local Governments’ Response to the Global Crisis: promotion of sustainable local development and employment.’ This theme is squarely in line with the on-going efforts to enhance the decentralization process in our country.

It should be recalled that Africities is a triennial African event that brings together officials in charge of decentralization-related issues, regional and local authorities, local elected officials, development partners and the different civil society players concerned with issues relating to local development in Africa. Africities, through an exhibition known as Citexpo, also enables participants to discover the achievements of African local Governments and to establish partnerships. In 2003, Yaounde hosted the third Africities.

Apart from the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Head of mission, the Cameroonian delegation to the Marrakech deliberations comprises  representatives of various State services, Mayors and business people./

Yaounde, 14 December 2009
(Sgd) THE MINISTER OF STATE,
MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION AND DECENTRALIZATION
MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA