Faced with terrorist threats, repeated coups and in the context of the war in Ukraine, the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, which opens on Monday, October 24, has as its theme: ” Africa put to the test by exogenous shocks: challenges of stability and sovereignty “.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
The Dakar Forum, which opens on Monday, is a meeting place for discussions and reflection between heads of state and government, representatives of institutions, NGOs, researchers and the private sector. This eighth edition honors Portuguese-speaking Africa with the participation of Angolan President Joao Lourenço and his Cape Verdean counterpart José Maria Neves.
France, the event’s main partner along with Japan, is represented by the Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. Among the foreign ministers announced are those of Mali, Guinea and Turkey.
The central question is therefore that of sovereignty. ” Africa does not want to be the home of a new cold war “, underlines the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, quoting President Macky Sall, also current President of the African Union. According to Aïssata Tall Sall, “ the moment seems decisive for Africa […] to get rid of its status as a theater of experimentation of ideologies and postures “.
Prominent among the topics discussed are security sector reform as well as military cooperation between Africa and its partners. ” Why always look for solutions outside ? asked Abdel-Fatau Musah, commissioner for peace and security of ECOWAS during a meeting prior to the forum, while pointing out the crucial problem of resources to strengthen African capacities.