ADDIS ABABA – The African Union’s (AU) recent inclusion in the G20 is a pivotal development for fostering diversified global alliances and enhancing cooperation, according to former AU Chairperson and Comoros President Assoumani. In an extensive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), President Assoumani underscored the importance of this milestone, achieved on September 9, 2023, in advancing Africa’s industrialization and collaboration with international organizations.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, President Assoumani elaborated on the benefits of AU membership in the G20, emphasizing its potential to diversify global alliances, foster cooperation, and attract investments for local resource processing and manufacturing. He pointed out the continent’s vast resources, lamenting the missed opportunities for processing these resources within Africa itself. “Africa has a lot of resources, but unfortunately, we do not process them on the continent,” Assoumani stated, highlighting the significance of partnering with G20 countries to boost investment and local production.
The former chair reiterated the AU’s prioritization of industrialization, noting that G20 membership could significantly accelerate this process and strengthen Africa’s position in global alliances. He called on the Union and its member states to assert Africa’s rightful place in international forums, advocating for a proactive stance in addressing challenges such as peace and security, climate change, food crises, and the development of the blue economy.
Reflecting on his tenure, Assoumani acknowledged the challenges faced by the continent, including unsuccessful endeavors that underscored the need for a stronger AU. He expressed concern over the slow progress in key areas but noted that institutional reforms within the AU were advancing successfully.
The conversation also turned to the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which President Assoumani described as a flagship project for the AU. Despite slower-than-expected progress in integration and the establishment of the AFCFTA zone, he stressed the importance of accelerating the ratification of the AFCFTA Agreement and commended the achievements in ratifications and tariff offers submitted to the AFCFTA Secretariat.
In conclusion, the former chair emphasized the importance of unity among African leaders to overcome challenges and promote economic independence. He called for a stronger AU capable of tackling issues effectively and highlighted the need to address the adverse effects of frequent coups d’état and conflicts on the continent.
President Assoumani’s insights reflect a vision for a more integrated and industrially advanced Africa, leveraging its G20 membership to forge stronger global partnerships and achieve sustainable development.
ADDIS ABABA – In a significant move to bolster digital transformation across Africa, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and tech giant Google have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, signed at the 2024 edition of the Africa Business Forum, aims to leverage both entities’ strengths to promote digital development in line with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) and Google’s Digital Sprinters Framework.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, this collaboration is set to explore and enhance various key areas including digital skills development for Africa’s young population, startup ecosystem support, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, online safety, and AI policy research for policymakers. The MoU represents a comprehensive framework for both parties to address digital challenges and bridge the digital divide on the continent.
ECA’s Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete, highlighted the partnership’s potential to significantly impact digital connectivity, innovation, and capacity building in Africa. He emphasized the importance of this collaboration in addressing the continent’s digital challenges and advancing towards closing the digital divide. With 63 percent of Africa’s population lacking internet access, the ECA has committed to promoting infrastructure development, improving affordability, ensuring a sound regulatory environment, and fostering digital skills.
The initiative also aligns with the goal of preparing Africa’s youth, projected to make up almost half of the global youth population by 2030, for the digital future and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Doron Avni, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Markets, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting the critical role of collaboration in harnessing advanced technologies like AI for Africa’s digital transformation.
Under the agreement, Google and the ECA will focus on supporting startup development with the ambitious goal of enabling one million startups to generate $100 billion in revenue by 2033. The partnership will also address computer science education, aiming to upskill over 5,000 young African students and 200 teachers in computer science and robotics to bolster Africa’s participation in the World Robot Olympiad.
The collaboration plans to extend its efforts to more than ten countries, including Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, the partnership will undertake collaborative research on Cybersecurity to explore its implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063.
