The excessive – degree First Ministerial Convention of the Russia – Africa Partnership Discussion board opened on 8TH November, 2024 at Sirius Federal Territory – Russian Federation. The discussion board commenced with Bilateral Conferences hosted by the Russian Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs, H.E Bogdanov Mikhail Leonidovich with Heads of Delegations, together with the ECOWAS Fee President, H.E Dr. Omar Alieu Tourey and his delegation.
The President was warmly welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs the place he took the chance to clarify to the ECOWAS Delegation, the targets of the Russia – Africa Partnership Discussion board. The Minister underscored the essential position that regional organizations, resembling ECOWAS performs within the promotion of socio – financial improvement, peace and safety of their members. The deputy minister restated the sturdy dedication of the Russian Federation in supporting and partnering with Africa and their entities, in the direction of attaining these targets.
In his response, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Tourey, President of the ECOWAS Fee, thanked the Deputy Minister for the wonderful reception since his delegation arrived. The ECOWAS President up to date the Minister on the progress achieved by his group within the space of regional integration, peace and safety.
Within the second day, the primary panel session on Russia – Africa: Working Collectively Towards Terror, the place the ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Safety, H.E Amb. Abdel – Fatau Musah featured, the trajectory of the historic antecedents of Russian’s solidarity with the African States within the battle towards terror have been chronicled. As well as, the Commissioner offered the present context of the expansionist tendencies of the terrorists in the direction of the coastal states with the Sahel Space presenting fertile grounds for them. He additional disclosed that numerous initiatives are in place, within the ECOWAS area, together with the potential activation of counterterrorism power. On the finish, the Commissioner posited that ECOWAS and the Alliance of the Sahelian States are sure by geography, historical past and tradition and are subsequently destined to collaborate collectively within the battle towards terrorism in West Africa which represent an existential risk to the complete area. Thus, an assault in any of the Sahelian states is taken into account an assault on different states in West Africa.
Equally, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Tourey, the President of ECOWAS Fee additionally participated within the second panel on Eurasia Financial Union – Africa: Figuring out Key Factors of Cooperation Between the Nations and Integration Associations on the Continent. The ECOWAS President used the chance to showcase main milestones achieved within the integration course of by underscoring the core work of ECOWAS starting from promotion of peace, good governance and deeper integration, amongst others. On this regard, he disclosed that Investments, intra-community infrastructure and the power hole have been the important constraints towards the financial progress and are very important for integration, simply as problems with well being and local weather motion. The President concluded by noting that coping with these challenges would considerably assist to handle problems with terrorism within the area, presently the epicentre of terrorism on the earth and subsequently known as for efficient collaboration with Eurasia Group.
The President and members of his delegation continued with different engagements on the numerous simultaneous bilateral, plenary and cultural periods all through the length of the Russia – Africa Partnership Discussion board. The Ag. Head of Peace Assist Operation Division, Dr Sani Adamu, was additionally a part of the ECOWAS delegation on the Sochi Discussion board.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS).