2026 | Namur hosts the 107th meeting of the AIMF Bureau

At the invitation of Ms Charlotte Bazelaire, Acting Mayor of the City of Namur, more than 70 mayors and representatives of French-speaking cities and capitals gathered in Namur on 8 and 9 June 2026 for the 107th meeting of the Bureau of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF).

Cities including Abidjan, Bordeaux, Brazzaville, Casablanca, Cotonou, Dakar, Douala, Geneva, Huế, Kinshasa, Libreville, Liège, Montreal, Nouakchott, Paris, Phnom Penh and Quebec City took part in these two days of meetings, reflecting the diversity and vitality of the network of French-speaking cities committed to addressing today’s major challenges.

Namur, a committed city at the heart of the French-speaking network

As a member of the AIMF Bureau, Namur is actively engaged in practical decentralised international cooperation, built on partnerships with numerous cities around the world that share the values of the Francophonie.

This dynamic, shared with other Belgian municipalities that are members of the AIMF, such as Liège, Brussels and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, is also supported by the Walloon Region, a long-standing partner of the network.

Discovering Namur’s projects

Ahead of the Bureau meeting, the delegations had the opportunity to discover several key projects undertaken by the City of Namur.

Stéphanie Scailquin, Alderwoman for Urban Planning, Spatial Planning and Ecological Transition, accompanied by Sophie Marischal, Head of the NID Department, presented the NID, Namur Intelligente et Durable (Smart and Sustainable Namur).

Anne Barzin, First Alderwoman and Alderwoman for Finance, Housing, International Relations and the Citadel, accompanied by Johan Giot, Head of the Urban Development Department, presented several recent projects, including the Esplanade de la Confluence and its surrounding developments, the Enjambée footbridge and the Square de la Francophonie.

These discussions provided an opportunity to highlight Namur’s urban transformation and the common challenges facing French-speaking cities.

High-level political and institutional discussions

On the sidelines of the event, the mayors held discussions with Belgian and European institutional representatives on the role of local authorities in international affairs.

A meeting was notably held with Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mayor of Namur, currently on leave from office.

A public conference on cooperation between cities

On 9 June, a public conference entitled “Cities and International Cooperation” highlighted the growing role of cities in international affairs.

Against a global backdrop marked by climate, social and economic challenges, the discussions emphasised the importance of cooperation between local authorities based on the co-creation of concrete solutions and public-sector innovation.

The conference was opened by Charlotte Bazelaire, Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of Wallonia, and Maxime Prévot.

Concrete initiatives to strengthen cooperation

The Namur meeting was also marked by several key initiatives:

• the launch of the first meeting of the AIMF “Social Precarity” Commission, led by the City of Namur and its Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS), in partnership with the City of Porto-Novo;
• the launch of the Cities’ Call for Sustainable Health, led by Quebec City, Nantes and Lausanne;
• the awarding of grants through the AIMF Cooperation Fund;
• the participation of a delegation of entrepreneurs from Quebec to strengthen economic ties between territories.

These initiatives illustrate a broader approach to municipal cooperation, bringing together local authorities, experts and economic stakeholders.

A meeting enriched by Namur’s culture and hospitality

The participants were also welcomed at the Provincial Palace by Denis Mathen, Governor of the Province of Namur, and discovered some of Namur’s living heritage through the Échasseurs et Échasseuses and the Marcheurs de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse.

The AIMF at a glance

Founded in 1979, the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) today brings together more than 350 cities and associations of local authorities across 57 countries, representing more than 250 million inhabitants. It works to promote municipal cooperation based on the sharing of experience, innovation and solidarity between territories.