Speech by His Excellency Ali Kolotou Tchaïmi on the occasion of the 83rd Session of the UPA Executive Committee in Morocco

Your Excellency, Mr President of the House of 
Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, 
Your Excellency, Mr President of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco
Your Excellencies, Heads of Delegation,
Honourable members of national groups,
Mr Secretary General of the APU, 
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, in your ranks, ranks and capacities, all protocol observed,

It is with deep gratitude and a sense of honour that I address you today on the occasion of the opening of the 83rd session of the Executive Committee of the African Parliamentary Union (APU), here in this beautiful country of Morocco, and in this magnificent and historic city of Rabat. 
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to stand and observe a minute's silence in memory of the Honourable Hatouma Gakou, Vice-President of the National Transitional Council of Mali and Head of the Mali National Group delegation to the UPA, who died on 1 APRIL 2025. She was with us at the last UPA Session in Ndjamena. A woman of conviction and commitment, she always worked to promote cross-border cooperation and championed the cause of people living with disabilities.

May her soul rest in peace.........................................................
Thank you.

On this page dedicated to the duty of gratitude, allow me to express, on behalf of all of us and on my own behalf, our very sincere feelings of respect and deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI (may God assist him) for the warm, friendly and fraternal welcome we have received since our arrival in Rabat, and to express to him the sympathy of the national representatives of the Member States of the African Parliamentary Union.
I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr Rachid Talbi El Alami, President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, and His Excellency Mr Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the Chamber of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco, for agreeing to host this important meeting of the UPA, for their personal involvement and for all the efforts they have made to provide us with excellent working conditions. Excellencies, Presidents of the Chambers of the Kingdom of Morocco, your availability and your constant solicitude illustrate your unwavering commitment to defending the fundamental values of the African Parliamentary Union, as well as your desire to contribute to building a strong, united, prosperous and united Africa.

I would also like to reiterate my sincere thanks to all the member parliaments of the UPA for their presence at this Session and for the confidence shown in the Chadian Parliament by entrusting it with the presidency of our union.  Under the leadership of Marshal MAHAMAT IDRISS DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic, Head of State, and his constant commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, our national representation is honoured by this mark of esteem and confidence, and is keenly aware of the responsibility it has to build a union that is more united and more respectful of the UPA's values. In accepting it, we commit the entire Chadian Parliament to working with determination, foresight and efficiency to strengthen our Union and defend its noble objectives.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Heads of Delegation,
Honourable Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The group is meeting today in a particularly worrying international context, marked by serious threats to peace and security, the dramatic consequences of climate change, the retreat of multilateralism, the establishment of the law of retaliation, the greed of the great powers and the development of identity-based divisions. These challenges, which threaten our stability and prosperity, demand a collective and resolute response.

In this context of great uncertainty, it is imperative that we, as African parliamentarians, assume all our responsibilities and act with determination.
In the face of these scourges, the UPA is positioning itself as a privileged forum for parliamentary dialogue where we advocate peace, democracy, good governance and sustainable development. Our Union is an instrument of parliamentary diplomacy, a framework for exchanging best practices, sharing experiences and harmonising our positions as African parliamentarians on the international issues that concern us. It is a bulwark against the scourges that threaten our continent, and a vector of hope for a better future. It is together, united in our diversity, that we will be able to meet the challenges we face.
Excellencies, 
Honourable Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The agenda for our session is rich and ambitious. We shall be reviewing the activities carried out by our Union during the intersessional period. We will also look at the financial issues of our organisation, through the examination and adoption of the management accounts and the Auditors' Report for the 2024 financial year, and we will consider the reforms needed to revitalise our Union, through the revision of our constitutive texts.

Finally, we will be preparing the next UPA conference, to be held in November 2025 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 
Our discussions will be essential to strengthening our effectiveness and impact on the continent.
Before concluding my remarks, I think it is essential to point out that most UPA members are not up to date with their subscriptions. I urge them to do their utmost to ensure that the Union has the essential resources to carry out its missions
I am convinced that our work will be fruitful and that we will be able to take the relevant decisions to strengthen our organisation and place it at the heart of African issues. 
I hope that our deliberations will be fruitful, that they will take place in a good-natured atmosphere, that they will contribute to the influence of our Union and that they will bring us closer to our common objective: to build a strong, united, prosperous and mutually supportive Africa.
I declare open the 83rd Session of the African Parliamentary Union.
I would like to thank you