The 51st General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie – APF has successfully wrapped up in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Following several days of high-level deliberations, the session concluded with a renewed focus on strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and advancing democratic values across the Francophone world. The event marked a major milestone for the host nation; Cameroon, drawing prominent political figures to its closing ceremonies.
A major highlight of the session was the official leadership transition, in line with the organization’s tradition of rotating its presidency among regional groupings. Nathalie Roy, the President of the National Assembly of Quebec, was elected as the new President of the APF and has officially assumed office. She succeeds Hilarion Etong, the First Vice-President of Cameroon’s National Assembly, who successfully completed his mandate.
The closing proceedings were presided over by the President of the Cameroonian Senate, His Majesty Aboubakary Abdoulaye. In his closing remarks, he commended the depth and quality of the discussions and the relevance of the adopted resolutions. He underscored the vital role of parliaments in consolidating democracy and promoting peace, while reaffirming Cameroon’s steadfast commitment to the core ideals of La Francophonie.
Following her election, Honourable Nathalie Roy held her first press briefing in the conference room of Cameroon’s National Assembly. She expressed her gratitude to the parliamentary leaders of Cameroon for their support and reaffirmed her commitment to collaborative dialogue. She emphasized that her ultimate goal is to foster deep cooperation to directly improve the well-being of Francophone populations worldwide.
During the briefing, Roy outlined her three key priorities for her presidency, which center on unity and progress for nearly 400 million French speakers. Her agenda focuses on promoting democratic peace, empowering Francophone youth, and enhancing the global visibility of APF member nations while actively safeguarding their rich cultural diversity.
The transition was warmly celebrated by attendees, including Honourable Lydienne Epoube, First Vice President of the Network of Women Parliamentarians. Epoube congratulated the new president, expressing immense satisfaction and full confidence in Roy’s future leadership.
The briefing concluded with a question-and-answer session with the press, followed by Epoube presenting Roy with a symbolic gift reflecting Cameroonian culture.
