The 25th African Regional Assembly (ARA) was held on 3 December 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, and chaired by Mohamed Rabie Khlie, CEO of ONCF (the Moroccan National Railway Office). The meeting was organised as part of the 20th UIC World Security Congress held in Rabat from 2 to 4 December 2025.

Khlie delivered an opening message presenting an inspiring 2026 action plan:

• Continued deployment of sustainable actions
• Development of new specific initiatives
• Definition of the roadmap for 2030
• Adaptation of the statutory framework for developments

François Davenne, UIC Director General and interim Coordinator of the Africa region, presented the UIC programme for 2026-2028, including regional plans, objectives and expected impact, and explained that UIC would leverage its current achievements by creating a more operationally driven roadmap that amplified both technical and advocacy efforts, thereby enhancing its capacity and strengthening its resources.

The highlights of the Africa activities for 2025 included:

• Training sessions and interregional activities which attracted active attendance by African railway networks, including:
  • UIC Rail Academy training sessions: Human and Organisational Factors (HOF) and Safety Culture
  • Training sessions on safety, track and rolling stock maintenance organised by ONCF and UIC at the Rabat training centre and online
  • Rail Turnout Maintenance Expertise Training Programme, organised by the Middle East region at the training centre of TCDD in Ankara in November 2025
  • Commuter and Regional Train Services Training (CRTMS) organised at UIC headquarters in Paris in October 2025

• Ongoing activities of the Africa region:
  • The main axes of the work of the region, notably the Safety, Security, Infrastructure Narrow Gauge, Rolling Stock and Women in Rail in Africa Task Forces, as well as the regular Africa Railway Thursday webinars organised for the Africa Railway Community
  • Collaboration with the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities

• The ambitious 2026 programme will be advanced through:
  • The continuation and expansion of existing initiatives
  • Launch of the Africa Regional Competence Hub
  • Organisation in Morocco of an in-person event on Financing railway projects