The General Assembly of the Network of Parliamentarians and Local Elected Officials for Environmental Protection in West African Coastal Countries (APPEL) concluded on a decidedly positive note on Friday, September 25, 2024, at the Palais des Congrès in Nouakchott. After three days of intense discussions and concrete commitments, the parliamentarians from the 12 participating countries returned home more determined than ever to tackle the shared environmental challenges facing the region.
The President of the Mauritanian Parliament, His Excellency Mohamed Bamba Ould Meguett, who presided over the opening ceremony, reaffirmed Mauritania’s commitment to protecting marine and coastal ecosystems. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of making the APPEL General Assembly a genuine turning point for the region. He stressed the need for a renewed collective dynamic, highlighting that the Nouakchott meeting represents an opportunity to drive ambitious environmental policies.
His Excellency Mohamed Bamba Ould Meguett presiding over the opening ceremony
“Our hopes rest on the current General Assembly of the Alliance of Parliamentarians and Local Elected Officials for the Protection of the Environment in West African Coastal Countries (APPEL). This meeting in Nouakchott must be a decisive turning point to create a new dynamic, one that matches our aspirations,” he declared.
His Excellency Ibrahima Baba Sall, outgoing President of APPEL
His Excellency Ibrahima Baba Sall, outgoing President of APPEL, highlighted the major challenges facing the region, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, overfishing, and the risks associated with oil and gas resource exploitation. He also underscored the central role that parliamentarians must play in addressing these issues.
“This is an opportunity for us, as parliamentarians, to play a pivotal role in raising awareness among populations and implementing effective environmental policies,” he reiterated.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of renewing the Alliance’s governance bodies to infuse it with new momentum.
“Today, we must renew APPEL’s governance bodies to give it fresh impetus and enhance its capacity to advocate for our countries’ cause with decision-makers,” he stated.
Ahmed Senhoury, Director of PRCM
For Ahmed Senhoury, Director of the Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone in West Africa (PRCM), the urgency of collective action is more pressing than ever. He stressed the key role of parliamentarians in drafting legislation aimed at the sustainable management of the West African coastline, noting that they must be the driving force behind awareness and advocacy within their respective institutions.
“As APPEL parliamentarians, you are called upon to raise awareness and advocate within your chambers for the protection and sustainable management of the West African coastline. As lawmakers, you are in a unique position to influence the development of legislative instruments for integrated coastal management and to promote the implementation of collaborative tools and mechanisms to make this a reality,” he argued.
MP Lemrabott Tanji, New President of the APPEL network
The meeting also saw the renewal of APPEL’s governance bodies, with the election of Mauritanian MP Lemrabott Tanji as APPEL President. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Tanji expressed his desire to continue the work initiated by his predecessor and expressed the wish to strengthen cooperation between parliamentarians and local governments.
“Our Alliance must be mirrored at the executive level to harmonize and make our policies for preserving and protecting our coastline, which is our common heritage, more effective and transparent,” he declared.
The event, which benefited from the technical and financial support of the PRCM, the World Bank through the WACA project, and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), concluded with concrete recommendations, accompanied by a call for rigorous follow-up to ensure their implementation.
A new chapter thus begins for APPEL, ready to face the ecological challenges of the West African coastline with renewed determination
