Dakar, Senegal – November 25, 2025 — In a landmark moment for Africa-diaspora relations,
The World Conference of Mayors (WCM) and the Council of Local Governments of the
West African Economic and Monetary Union (CCT-UEMOA) have formalized a strategic
partnership designed to accelerate economic development, municipal collaboration, and shared
prosperity across communities of African descent worldwide.

The CCT-UEMOA is comprised of eight countries and over 3000 mayors. These countries
include Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali,  Niger, Senegal and Togo.
A Bridge Rebuilt: Shared Purpose, Shared Future

Standing before regional leaders from across West Africa, Mayor Emeritus Ford presented The
WCM’s historic mission and its “7Ts Agenda”—Trust, Trade, Tourism, Technology Transfer,
Twinning, Treasury, and Training—a framework he has championed globally to reconnect the
economic engines of Black communities.

Dr. Abdoulaye Mbengue, WCM Director General; Hon. Oumar Ba, CCT-UMEOA President; Hon. Johnny
Ford, WCM Founder & Secretary General and Hon. Yacouba Traore, President Mali Municipalities Association

A Framework for Real, Measurable Action
The WCM–CCT partnership will immediately activate a three-pillar development strategy:

    1. Industrialization & Local Economic Development Launching collaborative projects that strengthen local production, expand municipal value
      chains, and create long-term employment.

    1. Municipal Finance & Governance Support
      Developing innovative financial tools and advisory mechanisms to increase revenue autonomy
      and improve public service delivery for cities and municipalities.

    1. City Twinning & Institutional Cooperation
      Pairing UEMOA cities with U.S. municipalities to exchange expertise, strengthen leadership, and
      promote cultural and economic diplomacy.

This blueprint positions both institutions to serve as engines of transformation for communities
from Dakar to Detroit, Lomé to Los Angeles, Bamako to Baltimore.

CCT-UEMOA Leaders Invited to 2026 International
Conferences in Tuskegee and Atlanta

As part of the newly signed partnership, Mayor Emeritus Ford extended an official invitation forall CCT-UEMOA member delegations to attend The WCM May 2026 International Annual Conference in Tuskegee, Alabama and the National Alliance for Black Business(NABB) August 2026 International Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

The event—one of the premier gatherings of Black mayors, entrepreneurs, bankers, investors, and policymakers—will serve as a platform to convert dialogue into concrete partnerships, investment deals, and diaspora-driven development initiatives.

 

About the World Conference of Mayors (WCM)
The World Conference of Mayors is an international institution committed to strengthening the economic, cultural, and political power of Black communities worldwide. Through investment
facilitation, decentralized cooperation, and municipal capacity building, WCM works to create a sustainable, shared future for cities across the African diaspora.

Dr. Abdoulaye Mbenge, Honorable Mayor Emeritus Johnny Ford, and Hon. Oumar Ba Address Conference in Dakar, Senegal

About CCT-UEMOA
The Council of Local Governments of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (CCT-UEMOA) represents local and regional authorities within UEMOA’s eight-nation economic zone.The council advocates for decentralization, municipal development, and the advancement of
sustainable, resilient local governance across West Africa.

 

Media Contact:
World Conference of Mayors, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
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Website: https://thewcm.org
Press Contact: Office of Hon. Mayor Johnny Ford – Dr. Abdoulaye Mbengue, WCM Director General