Russia / Africa – “It is not Africa that needs the rest of the world. In reality, it is the rest of the world that has a growing need for Africa” (Mr. Bourita)

Event. During the Russia-Africa Forum which is taking place this Sunday in Sochi, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita recalled a reality often ignored, namely that the African continent with its dynamism, its wealth and its youth has not need the rest of the world but it’s quite the opposite.

“Africa’s voice internationally must be listened to and respected,” he said, during his speech to his peers present at this first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa partnership forum.

– – Excerpts from Mr. Nasser Bourita’s speech:

1. We come to Sochi driven by a strong conviction: it is not Africa that needs the rest of the world. In reality, it is the rest of the world that has a growing need for Africa. Our continent carries a unique voice throughout the world, that of a continent rich in its history and diversity, proud to be the cradle of humanity, but also a Continent of the future, with great economic potential. and demographic.

2. Africa’s voice internationally must be listened to and respected. We are grateful to Russia for having understood the role of our continent and its potential.

3. So that the African voice can be heard and influence world affairs, it is important to recall three fundamental principles:

has. there can be no shared peace and prosperity in Africa, for the benefit of the people of our region, without strict respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states. There cannot be shared peace and prosperity on our continent without respecting the rules of good neighborliness between African states.
b. It is important for the continent’s partners to move away from the logic of paternalism and supervision, because Africa is capable of managing its problems.
c. Finally, there cannot be shared peace and prosperity in Africa if certain African states themselves set themselves up, unilaterally and without any form of legitimacy, as supposed leaders of our continent, when in reality they do not act only to serve strictly national agendas.

4. The Russia-Africa partnership has clear growth potential. For this it must be built on the fundamental priorities of the African continent. In view of the next Russia-Africa Summit, it would be desirable to focus our thoughts on the prospects for cooperation between Africa and Russia, particularly in the areas of food security and energy security.

5. The Kingdom of Morocco is perfectly at ease in this meeting, between its continent of identity and belonging and its strategic partner, which is Russia. With both, Morocco has always been constant and consistent on the pressing need to translate commitment into concrete actions, ambitious initiatives and structuring projects, in the service of human development, food security, energy and climate, security in short.

6. It is within this framework that the three major Royal initiatives fall, relating to the Rabat Process on the Atlantic African Countries, the Initiative to facilitate access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Initiative. These three initiatives are moving forward; and progressing very well!
7. The reminder of these initiatives serves to illustrate through facts the call that His Majesty the King has continually launched, for a change of approach on the part of traditional partners towards the African continent. Africa needs less assistance and more mutually beneficial partnerships.

8. What Africa really needs are structuring human and social development projects. Africa’s best partner is the one who knows better than others how to support its momentum, fill in its shortcomings and increase its potential.

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