For the first time in the history of the African Union, the Secretary of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Mr. Osama El-Lissy, physically attended the preparatory meeting of the 17th session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (Pre-CPM-17) in Douala, Cameroon. This meeting, organized by the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), brought together IPPC Contracting Parties, Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other stakeholders. The event was highlighted by the official launch of the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), a global phytosanitary initiative valued at USD 37.8 million, aimed at the effective management of plant pests and diseases and the socio-economic development of the continent.