Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Africa’s resources contribute enormously to global development, yet Africa is negatively perceived as a mere supplier of raw materials and incapable of adding value to or developing them.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made this statement on Monday during the two-day inaugural meeting of the high-level panel of experts on Africa and the reform of the multilateral system.
‘While Africa has an abundance of resources, it has little to no control over the global financial systems and international trade rules. Hence, the compelling need to reform the global economic and financial systems to level the playing field. A fairer and more resilient multilateral trading system must be open, transparent and non-discriminatory,’ Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that the reform of the multilateral system is a crucial issue for Namibia and Africa, adding that there is a demand for the United Nations (UN) to be reformed in order to ensure regional representation at the UN Security Council.
Solomon Dersso, the Founding Director of Amani Africa, said that from reflections, what has become clear is that this is a moment of challenge but also of opportunity.
‘If the opportunities are harnessed and seized, then initiatives like this are critical and of strategic significance for the African continent, as they would help the continent take leadership and exercise urgency in informing, shaping and reforming the multilateral system,’ Dersso said.
Dersso stated that the only way this moment can be seized and challenges overcome is if Africa takes leadership and action with urgency, adding that this reform has to be comprehensive, touching on the political and economic governance of the international order.
The inaugural meeting by Amani Africa aims to reflect on strategic-level matters related to the current global state of affairs and its impact on Africa, with focus on matters related to a reformed global conflict management and diplomacy architecture and financial system.
Amani Africa Media and Research Services is an independent pan-African policy research, training and consulting think tank with expertise on the African Union system, with a specialisation on the AU Peace and Security Council.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
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