The 8th Africities summit, the largest pan-African gathering of cities and local governments, opened on Tuesday in Marrakesh, under the theme «The transition to sustainable cities and territories: the role of Africa's local and regional governments», with the participation of some 3,000 elected officials. This major event, held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, brings together 5,000 participants, including local actors from the continent and partners from other regions of the world, ministers responsible for local authorities, housing and urban development and the civil service, as well as local authorities and elected officials, heads of local and central administrations, civil society organizations and economic operators from the public and private sectors. Organized until November 24, Africities will establish Africa's essential place in the definition and implementation of development, integration and cooperation policies and strategies in Africa, and will offer new perspectives for a greater contribution from the continent's local and regional authorities. A space open to all those who wish, in alliance with African local authorities, to build alternative policies leading to environmental sustainability and social inclusion in Africa, the «Marrakesh gathering» aims to mobilize African local authorities and their partners to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, which has significant resources and enormous growth potential in the world. Thus, the participants in this Summit will have to define what characterizes these different transitions, taking into consideration the context and specificities of the continent, as well as the role of African local and regional authorities in their implementation.
