Speech given by the Secretary General, in Ndjamena, on the occasion of the installation of the new President of the APU

Right Honourable President of the National Assembly,
Honourable Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly,
Members of the Government of the Republic of Chad,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
Representatives of the diplomatic corps,
Secretaries General of the National Assembly,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, in your ranks,
grades and qualities, all protocol observed,

I have the honour of taking the floor to welcome you to this ceremony to install the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the African Parliamentary Union.
It is with deep gratitude that I stand before you today, honoured to be able to address this august assembly. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your presence on this momentous occasion.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the Chadian authorities, and in particular to His Excellency Marshal MAHAMAT IDRISS DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad. His proven leadership has been a beacon for the Chadian nation. He has steered Chad towards a successful and exemplary transition and has enabled a return to constitutional normality. I would like to pay tribute to his unwavering commitment
to building a Chad of peace and social harmony, resolutely focused on sustainable economic and social development.
I would also like to reiterate my congratulations and thanks to the President of the National Assembly of Chad.

Also and in accordance with the provisions of Article 14 paragraph 4 of the Statutes of the African Parliamentary Union, I quote ‘In the event that the President ceases to be President of the National Parliamentary Assembly, his or her successor shall, from that moment, become President of the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term of office’. By virtue of these provisions, I declare the Right Honourable Mr ALI KOLOTOU TCHAÏMI henceforth Chairman of the Executive Committee of the African Parliamentary Union. He succeeds His Excellency, Dr HAROUN KABADI.
This is an immense honour, not only for him personally, but also for the people of Chad as a whole.

However, with this honour comes responsibility.
We are all aware of the major and multidimensional problems facing our continent, including terrorism, armed conflict, the consequences of climate change and poor governance, all of which are challenges we must tackle together. It is imperative that we unite our efforts to address these crucial issues.
I hereby reaffirm the readiness of the African member parliaments and the General Secretariat of the African Parliamentary Union to provide you with all the guidance, support and assistance you will need to carry out this exciting mission. Together, we can work to build a better future for our continent.

Finally, I would like to pay a warm tribute to His Excellency Dr Haroun KABADI, outgoing Chairman of the Executive Committee of the African Parliamentary Union. His great concern and constant availability have been invaluable assets for our Organisation. Thank you, Excellency, for your dedication and exemplary service.
Thank you for your kind attention.

 THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARY UNION
Mr IDI GADO BOUBACAR