Since Monday 18 May 2026, Senegal has hosted the 32nd Africa Regional Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF). This meeting brings together several presidents of African parliamentary assemblies and delegations on issues related to interparliamentary cooperation, institutional stability and major political challenges in the French-speaking area.
The 32nd Africa Regional Assembly of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) officially opened on Monday 18 May 2026 in Dakar, bringing together in the Senegalese capital several presidents of national assemblies, parliamentarians and representatives of the African sections of the French-speaking area. Held until 20 May at the initiative of the National Assembly of Senegal, this high-level meeting focuses on the major political, diplomatic, security and institutional challenges facing the African continent.
The opening ceremony was held in the presence of the President of the National Assembly of Senegal, El Malick Ndiayesurrounded by several African parliamentary figures who came to take part in the proceedings. Among the delegations present were those led by Patrick Achi (Côte d'Ivoire), Mohamed Bemba Meguet (Mauritania) Simplicity Mathieu Sarandji (Central African Republic).
In his speech, El Malick Ndiaye stressed the need for African countries to strengthen parliamentary cooperation in response to the security and geopolitical crises affecting the continent. The President of the Senegalese National Assembly, in particular, considered that the responses to the security challenges in Africa « will not be purely military or purely external »advocating more sovereignty-based approaches, political dialogue and institution-building.
The opening ceremony was also marked by the speech of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), Hilarion Etong. In his speech, he stressed the need to strengthen solidarity between African parliaments in the face of political, security and institutional challenges. He also called for a more united parliamentary Francophonie, capable of accompanying States in consolidating democracy, peace and stability, in an international context marked by strong geopolitical tensions and recompositions.
The work of this 32nd Africa Regional Assembly of the APF will include: issues of African sovereignty, international crises, institutional stability and the role of parliaments in consolidating peace and dialogue among peoples. The discussions will also address current geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East and the Middle East, in a global context marked by profound diplomatic and security changes.
Through the organization of this meeting, Senegal confirms its position as a space for diplomatic and parliamentary dialogue in francophone Africa. For three days, Dakar will become the point of convergence of reflections on the strengthening of interparliamentary cooperation and the place of French-speaking Africa in the major international balances. The work should lead to the adoption of a final communiqué containing the main conclusions and recommendations of the discussions.
