Some 400 parliamentarians, parliamentary officials and institutional leaders from across the Francophone world have converged in Cameroon for the 51st Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF).
The week-long gathering according organisers will strengthen cooperation among member states and build parliamentary responses to some of today’s most pressing global challenges. On 7 July, a meeting of the APF Bureau held at the Paul Biya Glass House, chaired by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie and Senior Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Hilarion Etong. Running until 12 July, the session also brings together around 100 young parliamentarians, reflecting the APF’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of legislative leaders and strengthening dialogue across the Francophone world.
Hosted under the patronage of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, the Yaounde meeting follows the 50th APF Plenary Session held in Paris in 2025, where Cameroon was chosen to host this year’s gathering. Delegates will deliberate on two themes that resonate far beyond the Francophone community: Multilateralism and State Sovereignty, and The Role of Francophone Parliaments in Addressing Climate Change in a Changing World Seeking Sustainable Development.
Created in 1967, the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie has evolved into one of the world’s leading interparliamentary organisations, bringing together 92 member parliaments and parliamentary organisations from five continents that share the French language. Beyond promoting the use of French, the Assembly serves as a political forum where parliamentarians exchange ideas, influence international debates and work collectively to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights, peace and parliamentary diplomacy. It also monitors the implementation of commitments adopted at Francophonie Summits and supports capacity building for both legislators and parliamentary administrations.
On July 4, the Association of Secretaries General of Francophone Parliaments (ASGPF), bringing together the senior officials responsible for the day-to-day functioning of legislative institutions met. Opening the General Assembly, ASGPF President and Clerk of the National Assembly of Québec, Siegfried Peters, stressed the importance of strong parliamentary administrations in ensuring effective legislatures. He outlined strategic priorities aimed at reinforcing cooperation among parliamentary administrations and enhancing their ability to support democratic institutions. Although they work largely behind the scenes, Secretaries General are the custodians of parliamentary procedure and institutional memory.
Claudette Chin
