Yaounde: 51st La Francophonie Parliamentary General Assembly opens today.

It brings together participants from Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. According to stakeholders, the event rallies over 300 delegates, parliamentary leaders and youth representatives from across the French-speaking world. High-level discussions will touch on governance, development and international cooperation. 

Delegations have continued to streaming into Yaounde for the event, with several parliamentary leaders received at Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport by First Vice-President of the National Assembly, Hilarion Etong, who heads both the Cameroon Section of the APF and the organisation itself.

Among the early arrivals were the Speaker of the National Assembly of Quebec, Nathalie Roy; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Francine Landry; a member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Vaud, Cendrine Cachemaille; and the First Vice President of Senegal’s National Assembly, Malick Ndiaye. They were accompanied by members of their respective delegations.

The event was announced during a press briefing held at the Paul Biya Glass House in Yaounde on June 25. During the presser, Hilarion Etong said preparations had reached an advanced stage.

Registration figures stood at 275 participants at the time of the briefing, including around 15 heads of parliamentary chambers, with additional delegates expected before the opening.

According to organisers, a committee made up of 17 specialised sub-committees has been coordinating arrangements for transport, accommodation, catering, health services and security. 

Eight hotels have been selected to host participants, while security personnel have been deployed to ensure the smooth movement and safety of delegates throughout their stay in Cameroon.

The official programme begins with a meeting of the APF Bureau chaired by Etong this Tuesday, July 7. Activities scheduled during the week include meetings of the Networks of Young Parliamentarians and Women Parliamentarians, sessions of the standing committees on political affairs, economic and social issues, environmental matters, education, culture and parliamentary affairs, as well as plenary discussions. 

Proceedings will take place at both the National Assembly and Senate in Yaounde.

Ahead of the General Assembly, the Association of Secretaries General of Francophone Parliaments opened its own General Assembly in Yaounde on July 5. 

The meeting brought together parliamentary clerks and senior officials from participating legislatures to discuss parliamentary administration, democracy, education and professional ethics within parliamentary public services.

Founded in 1967, the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie brings together more than 90 parliamentary sections from French-speaking countries and regions. 

The organisation promotes cooperation among member parliaments and dialogue on issues affecting the Francophone community.

The Yaounde session, organisers say, is expected to strengthen parliamentary cooperation across the Francophone world, examine questions related to multilateralism, State sovereignty and the role of Francophone parliaments in addressing climate and development challenges.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3840 of Tuesday July 07, 2026