The Minister of Interior and Decentralization and the Secretary General of CUA, surrounded by delegations from Indian Ocean islands, met yesterday at Analakely City Hall. Local and regional decision-makers launched a vibrant call for unity and youth engagement the day before at Analakely City Hall during the opening of AVCOI's annual meeting. Determined to address digital, climate, and social transformations, Indian Ocean territorial authorities intend to place young people at the heart of their development strategies to build a more solidarity-based and resilient regional space. Analakely City Hall hosted yesterday the opening of the annual meeting of the Association of Cities and Local Authorities of the Indian Ocean (AVCOI). Themed "Youth: Strategic Resource to Accelerate Transformation of Indian Ocean Communities," this ceremony brought together a significant gathering of local, regional, and international authorities. Besides Madagascar's mayors and technical and financial partners, the event took place in the presence of Mauritius government representative—who chairs the network secretariat—, official delegations from Comoros, Réunion, Seychelles, Mayotte, as well as representatives of the Malagasy government, diplomatic corps, and numerous local authorities. In his address, Interior and Decentralization Minister Hanitra Velonjara Tiaray Rakotonandrasana emphasized the urgency of investing in youth and building a more solidarity-based Indian Ocean space. According to him, this meeting represents a major opportunity to refound territorial action around three pillars: planning focused on social justice, strengthening resilience against crises, and sharing expertise, particularly in water management and public modernization. AVCOI co-president and Mamoudzou mayor (Mayotte) Ambdilwahedou Soumaila highlighted the importance of involving young people in upcoming transformations. "These two days of exchanges should enable Indian Ocean youth to take ownership of economic development challenges, particularly digital transition, artificial intelligence, and climate change adaptation," he stated. He also called for better access to international financing, particularly from the European Union, to implement projects carried out by local authorities. "Alone, we cannot succeed. AVCOI allows us to share experiences and effectively respond to our citizens' expectations," he added, while praising the Malagasy government's involvement. Grassroots Reform The Mauritian representative recalled that population security and well-being remain the network's absolute priority. A commitment shared by Antananarivo Urban Municipality (CUA). Bao Razafimahefa, CUA Secretary General, stressed the need to listen to grassroots aspirations. "We must involve as many young people as possible to unite our forces, as they bring essential perspective to development. We must work closely with decentralized structures, closest to the ground," she stated, advocating for grassroots reform of current action plans to ensure better coherence with local realities.