ORU Fogar Admits a Ukrainian Region and Expands Its Presence in Ecuador and Mali

The Organization of United Regions (ORU Fogar) continues to expand its international network with the admission of new member regions, reaffirming its commitment to decentralized cooperation, territorial solidarity and support for regional governments operating in particularly challenging contexts.

At the Bureau meeting held on the first of December 2025, the accession of three new regions was approved: Gao (Mali), Los Ríos (Ecuador), and the Lviv Agglomeration (Ukraine). These admissions reflect ORU Fogar’s determination to strengthen its global presence and to support territories facing significant political, social, and humanitarian challenges.

The admission of the Region of Gao is of its particular significance, as it consolidates and reinforces ORU Fogar’s presence in Mali, where the organization already includes among its members the Association of Regions of Mali, the regions of Mopti and Koulikoro, and the District of Bamako. In a national context marked by instability and serious challenges related to security, governance, and territorial development, Gao’s accession constitutes a clear message of support for Malian regional authorities and their key role in territorial cohesion and service delivery. This support is especially meaningful in light of the fragile situation affecting the country’s regions, recently underscored by the kidnapping of the President of the Ségou Region.

The accession of the Lviv Agglomeration carries strong political symbolism in the context of the war affecting Ukraine. Lviv has become a strategic territory for hosting internally displaced persons and for coordinating international cooperation at the regional level. Its membership in ORU Fogar represents a clear gesture of support for Ukrainian regional governments and a commitment to maintaining channels of dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity at the European subnational level.

During the subsequent ORU Fogar General Assembly, President Rachid El Abdi explicitly highlighted the importance of these new admissions, stressing both the need to include a Ukrainian region within the organization and the responsibility to demonstrate support and solidarity with the regions of Mali given the situation they are facing.

During the Assembly, the floor was given to all regions admitted to ORU Fogar throughout 2025. Representatives from Tucumán (Argentina); Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil); Koungheul (Senegal); Béni Mellal-Khénifra (Morocco); as well as Gao (Mali), Los Ríos (Ecuador), and the Lviv Agglomeration (Ukraine) addressed the Assembly. All delegations conveyed messages of greeting and appreciation to the organization, with the sole exception of Rufisque (Senegal), which was unable to attend.

The interventions highlighted a shared interest in strengthening interregional cooperation, exchanging experiences in territorial governance, and actively contributing to the values of dialogue, peace, and development promoted by ORU Fogar.

Finally, the Assembly acknowledged and approved the withdrawal request submitted by the Central Region of Paraguay, due to the accumulation of unpaid membership contributions and the inability to settle them.

With these new admissions, ORU Fogar further consolidates its role as a leading international platform for cooperation among regions, reaffirming its vocation for solidarity and mutual support among territories across different continents.