Douala1 and Haskovo join forces for sustainable cooperation between Africa and Europe

Official signing of the Decentralised Cooperation Agreement between the Municipality of Douala 1 (Cameroon) and the Municipality of Haskovo (Bulgaria)

Haskovo, Bulgaria – June 2026

A new chapter in relations between Africa and Europe was written in Haskovo with the official signing, on 11 June 2026, of the Decentralised Cooperation Agreement between the Municipality of Douala 1, represented by its Mayor, Mr Lengue Malapa Jean Jacques, and the Municipality of Haskovo, represented by its Mayor, Mr Stanislav Dechev.

This signing marks the culmination of several years of collaboration within the framework of the CSO-LA/2020/420-469 project ‘UNESCO Heritage for Sustainable Cities (USC)’, funded by the European Union, and ushers in a new phase of sustainable partnership based on the exchange of experiences, local development and bringing peoples closer together.

A proven track record of cooperation

Even before the signing of this agreement, the two local authorities had developed close working relationships through the USC project, alongside the City of Saint-Louis in Senegal.

This partnership has helped to strengthen the institutional capacities of local authorities, promote cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development, encourage educational exchanges between young people, and trial innovative approaches to local governance.

Key achievements include, in particular, the school twinning scheme between schools in Douala 1 and Haskovo, technical exchanges between municipal administrations, and the sharing of best practice in the fields of culture, education, youth and the environment.

A forward-looking partnership

The agreement signed in Haskovo formalises the two municipalities’ shared commitment to strengthening their cooperation in strategic areas such as:

·        Local governance and citizen participation;

·        Culture and heritage promotion;

·        Education and youth;

·        Sustainable development and urban resilience;

·        Economic and business exchanges;

·        Securing international funding for regional projects.

The two local authorities also intend to develop regular consultation mechanisms in order to transform this cooperation into a genuine tool for development for the benefit of their respective populations.

A shared ambition between Europe and Africa

Through this partnership, Douala¹ and Haskovo are demonstrating their ambition to build a lasting bridge between Europe and Africa.

During official discussions, both parties emphasised the importance of promoting youth mobility, intercultural dialogue and closer ties between economic stakeholders in order to create new opportunities for cooperation and investment.

The Douala¹ Municipality has, in particular, expressed its wish to welcome a major institutional and economic delegation from Haskovo to Cameroon in the near future, with a view to showcasing the opportunities offered by the Douala¹ and, more broadly, Central Africa.

A powerful symbol of ancestral diplomacy

The presence within the Cameroonian delegation of His Majesty the Chief of Akwa Canton lent this meeting a special significance, illustrating the importance attached by Douala¹ to the complementarity between modern and traditional governance in fostering local development.

This approach, which has already been successfully trialled as part of the USC project, is now one of the distinctive features of Douala^1’s experience in participatory governance.

A partnership set to grow stronger

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the two mayors reaffirmed their commitment to making this partnership a model of decentralised cooperation based on trust, reciprocity and action.

Beyond the signing of a document, a shared vision was expressed: that of local authorities capable of working together to tackle the challenges of sustainable development, promote dialogue between cultures and offer new opportunities to their citizens.

The decentralised cooperation agreement between Douala¹ and Haskovo thus represents a major step in strengthening relations between the two territories and sends a strong signal in favour of renewed cooperation between Europe and Africa.