CAFOR Announcement: Dissolution of the Executive Board and Next Steps

Dear Members of the CAFOR Community,

I hope this message finds you all well.

I am writing to officially inform you of a major governance development within our organization. As of April 1, 2025, the Executive Board of CAFOR has been formally dissolved, in line with the stipulations outlined in our Constitution and Terms of Reference.

According to Article 14.5 and 14.6 of the CAFOR Constitution, the tenure of Executive Board members is three years, renewable once upon re-election. The most recent Board, constituted in January 2018, had its term expire in January 2021. Since no formal process of renewal or re-election was undertaken, and in the interest of organizational transparency, good governance, and compliance with our internal legal framework, the current board is deemed legally and officially dissolved.

We are deeply grateful to all former board members for their invaluable contributions to CAFOR during their service. Their guidance and commitment have helped shape the path of this organization through pivotal moments in our institutional journey.

We are now entering a period of transition and renewal. As part of this process, CAFOR is actively renegotiating its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union. Once this new agreement is finalized, we will initiate a transparent and inclusive process to constitute a new Executive Board that reflects the diversity, energy, and expertise required to move CAFOR into the next phase of its development.

This decision has not been taken lightly. It reflects the need to rejuvenate the leadership of our organization, ensure accountability, and set CAFOR firmly on the path to becoming a leading Pan-African platform for youth empowerment, education, media, and development communication.

We thank you for your continued support and understanding during this transition. More updates will follow in the coming weeks regarding the MoU and the new board formation process. As always, your engagement and contributions are vital to CAFOR’s mission and growth.

Warm regards,

Dr. Lawalley Cole

Executive Director, CAFOR

(On behalf of the CAFOR Secretariat)