Opening by our moderator:

Niagalé Bagayoko: President of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN).

The discussions will focus on redefining partnerships between Europe and Africa in a postcolonial world. The aim will be to rethink narratives, overcome asymmetrical legacies, and lay the foundations for cooperation based on historical justice, reciprocity, and co-construction.

In this dynamic of renewal of Euro-African relations, local authorities

appear as key players in concrete and local cooperation. Partnerships between African and European cities will illustrate how territories can drive shared responses to the challenges of mobility, climate, urban planning and culture.

This dialogue between territories is accompanied by a broader movement, driven by culture,

education and innovation, which open up new perspectives for transformation and

development. Networking talent, circulating knowledge and supporting creative industries contribute to building a common space of influence and cooperation.

Youth, at the heart of these dynamics, find in sport a lever for inclusion, social connection, and influence. The discussions will highlight the role of sports initiatives in promoting peace, education, and cooperation through the organization of events and support for local talent.

Finally, in a context of geopolitical changes, the question of security, peace and governance requires an approach rooted in African realities. Participants

will reflect on the co-construction of adapted policies, by promoting local systems and endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and management.

Throughout the discussions, several cross-cutting issues will be addressed: the ecological and climate transition, human mobility seen as an opportunity, and the quest for digital, economic and cultural sovereignty, as pillars of renewed cooperation.

Official speeches:

Michaël Delafosse : Mayor and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.
Achille Mbembe : Cameroonian historian and political scientist, patron of the Biennale.
Frédéric Vallier: General Delegate of the International Association of French-Speaking Mayors (AIMF), former Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions – CEMR on territorial cooperation between cities.
Eva Nguyen Binh: President of the French Institute.
Fadilha Benammar Koly : President of the International Relations Commission of the Occitanie Region.