Morocco Assumes the Presidency of the Ministerial Conference on Youth and Sports of Francophone Countries
Morocco is hosting today, Friday, in the capital Rabat, the proceedings of the “Ministerial Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers of Francophone Countries” (CONFEJES) in its fortieth session. This gathering was attended by ministers from French-speaking African nations, with the highlight of the opening session being the transfer of the rotating presidency to Morocco for a period of two years.
Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, received the presidency from his Congolese counterpart “Mishael.” This platform serves as an international continental forum to discuss public policies related to youth and sports, as well as to advance the social and economic empowerment of this demographic, particularly in Francophone countries.
With the presence of ministers, government officials, and experts from member states of the organization, the meeting commenced this Friday morning. Louise Rene Tobie, Secretary General of the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers of Francophonie (CONFEJES), considered it “an opportunity to celebrate four decades of continuous commitment towards empowering youth in the Francophone space, and establishing sports as a means for social cohesion, public health, and collective progress.”
In her opening remarks, the Secretary General expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI and the government of Morocco, particularly the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, for hosting the fortieth session from May 13 to 16. She recalled the beginning of the conference with an international symposium on the topic: “Training in Youth and Leisure Professions in the Face of New Political Challenges and Labor Market Demands in the Member Countries,” followed by meetings of the administrative and financial committee, and discussions among experts on May 14 and 15.
The official ministerial session held today will involve “discussing reports and proposed decisions, as well as the strategic framework of the conference in youth and sports, and evaluating the impacts of existing programs; before arriving at decisions and recommendations aimed at promoting these vital sectors (youth and sports),” Tobie explained in a statement to Hespress on the sidelines of the session.
Meaning and Welcome
For his part, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid noted in a speech following the transfer of the presidency to Morocco for the next two years that the “importance of hosting the conference is embodied in this great honor bestowed upon the Kingdom of Morocco by being chosen as the host country for the fortieth session of the Ministerial Conference on Youth and Sports of Francophone Countries (CONFEJES).”
Bensaid added, welcoming this prestigious trust placed in the country and in himself as Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, that “the presidency of CONFEJES from this session also takes place under the auspices of the Royal Patronage.”
The Moroccan Minister of Youth further emphasized that “this high-profile international event, organized under the esteemed royal patronage of King Mohammed VI, carries a special significance for our country as it coincides with a strong national dynamism inspired by the king’s visionary outlook that places youth at the heart of public policy priorities.” He recalled that the king has consistently stressed the need to empower youth with the necessary tools for their economic, social, and cultural development, citing the king’s speech to the nation on August 20, 2018, on the occasion of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.
“Practical Responses and Moroccan Commitment”
According to Bensaid, “this meeting, which represents an important milestone in our collective journey, takes place in a global context characterized by rapid transformations, where economic, social, environmental, and technological challenges impose our collective responsibility towards younger generations, who are seen as engines of innovation, social transformation, and sustainable peace in the Francophone space.”
The Moroccan official, accompanied by Mohammed Saad Bahmad, Minister of National Education and Sports, insisted on “the ethical and political duty that remains ours to provide bold and practical responses to these challenges, and to prepare a suitable environment for youth development,” describing it as “an environment that ensures equal opportunities, encourages initiative and creativity, protects fundamental rights, and values the active participation of youth in public life and the development of our communities.”
In this context, Bensaid reaffirmed on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco “its strong, clear, and solid commitment to work alongside all member states and governments in the ministerial conference held in Rabat to formulate and implement ambitious, comprehensive policies that are adapted to the realities and specificities of each of our countries.”
The ministerial meeting of Youth and Sports Ministers in its fortieth session continued with “a closed session for ministers until this Friday afternoon,” with the expectation of adopting “recommendations” or “decisions” to serve the dynamics of youth empowerment in the concerned countries and to develop public sports policies targeting them, in addition to addressing “the issue of youth employment.”
It is noteworthy that the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF) and its Secretary General were represented by Fatima Aouidate, Head of the “Youth and Civil Society Division,” who clarified in a statement to the media that “the International Organization of Francophonie attends this event to participate in discussions addressing the challenges faced by youth in their daily lives, and to find solutions for supporting youth in all Francophone countries.”
Aouidate stated: “We are many international partners, ministers from our countries and member governments, willing to work for Francophone youth by proposing projects and solutions for issues that concern them, such as access to employment, the digital divide, and sustainable development. We are also here to address these issues and find the most suitable solutions for the youth we all represent here today.”
