Algeria was represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Russia-Africa ministerial conference held in Sochi on November 9 and 10.
From this city which he described as the “Pearl of the Black Sea”, Ahmed Attaf vilified colonialism “old or new”, in an allusion to France, a former colonial power in Africa, and to Morocco which occupies Western Sahara, without however mentioning these two countries by name.
Among the priorities formulated and included in the results of the meeting, the head of Algerian diplomacy particularly welcomed that linked to the completion of the decolonization of Africa.
Ahmed Attaf advocated for the total elimination of colonization on the African continent because, he said, “there is no place for colonialism, old or new, in today’s world.” today and in today’s Africa.”
Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco since 1975, is considered by the United Nations to be the last colony on the African continent. Algeria is the main supporter of the Sahrawi people’s struggle for their right to self-determination.
Last July, France aligned itself completely with Morocco’s theses by recognizing “Moroccan sovereignty” over the occupied territories.
France has also put itself at odds with the resolutions of the Security Council, of which it is a permanent member, by supporting the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 while the UN recommends the organization of a self-determination referendum.
The new position of the French president Emmanuel Macron triggered a new crisis between Paris and Algiers. Algeria has been without an ambassador in Paris since July 31.
In Russia, Ahmed Attaf castigates colonialism, “old and new”
The opportunity was propitious for the senior Algerian official to recall the historic support of the Russia (former Soviet Union) to African countries in their struggle to get rid of colonialism.
In this regard, Minister Ahmed Attaf spoke of “a historical legacy rooted in the valuable support that African countries received from their Russian friends in the fight against colonialism, occupation and foreign domination.”
After independence, he further recalled, the partnership between the two parties developed thanks to the “significant contributions” that Russia made to strengthening the capacities of African countries to help them in “laying the foundations of their national economies.
Ahmed Attaf also underlined the need to activate “African solutions to African problems”.
“Solutions imposed from abroad have never proven their role in extinguishing the flames of conflicts and in resolving the various crises and conflicts from which the countries and peoples of the continent suffer,” he recalled.
Another priority for Africa, according to the head of Algerian diplomacy, is the strengthening of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes. “This scourge represents today the most important security challenge which threatens the stability of Africa and compromises its development and its rebirth,” declared Ahmed Attaf.
On another note, the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke of the reform of the UN and called for an end to “the marginalization imposed” on the continent, on the Security Council and in various global economic, financial and monetary organizations, which the fact that Africa is absent “in international decision-making, even those which directly concern it”, he regretted.
Ahmed Attaf made a real plea for the development of the continent, calling for efforts to be directed towards accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Agenda 2063.
“Africa’s delay in sustainable development will have a profound impact on prolonging the challenges facing the countries and people of our continent,” he warned.
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