The Dialogue of Civilisations which took place during the 17th Rhodes Forum on the 11th and 12th of October 2019 was organised by the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, to discuss several national and regional issues and offer Africa’s vision on major international issues. Special guest at this year’s event was the President of Niger Republique and present Chairman of the African Union, President Mahamadou Issoufou.
President Issofou used the opportunity to present his vision for Africa and Niger, advocating for multilateralism and drawing attention to the security situation in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin, the situation in Libya and support of the international community to combat terrorism in West Africa. He warned that the problems posed by climate change and illegal migration if left unattained to will create another circle of violence across the region.
Read also: President Mahamadou Issoufou Keynotes This Year’s Rhodes Forum
This event comes at a time Niger is ascending the position of a non-permanent member of the Security Council from January 2020 thus it has a big role in projecting African interests and representations. Another issue he highlighted was the challenges of counterfeiting in drugs across the markets in Africa. He equally called for reforms in global political and economic governance and win-win cooperation between countries.
On the next day of the Dialogue, President Issoufou concluded by participating in a panel dedicated to partnership between Africa and the rest of the world. The Panel discussion was moderated by Hannane Ferdjani of Africanews. Participants included the Founder of Transparency International, Africa Progress Panel Co-Chair Mr Peter Eigen from Germany, Founder and President of the Brazzaville Foundation Mr Jean Yves Olivier from France, former Prime Minister of Guinea Mr Kabiné Komara, Director of Education Projects of ABO Capital Mr Jaimie Graça from Angola and South African Industrialist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Mr Ivor Ichikovitz.
Read also : African Development Bank President decries child marriage in Africa
In his speech, President Issoufou raised all the issues related to this theme and clarified his vision for the development of Africa. His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou emphasised the challenges and prospects inherent in the development of the African continent, recalling the situation of Africa in various fields and underlining the efforts led by its leaders through, inter alia, Agenda 2063 and its various Plans and Projects, including ZLECAf.
President Issoufou again thanked the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute and in particular its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Vladimir Yakunin and Executive Director Mr. Jean-Christophe Bas, ‘for having provided him, as a Special Guest, at this 17th Rhodes Forum, a privileged place of reflection and analysis to help in the decision-making of political and economic world leaders.’
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.