Africa-Press – Angola. The African states represented at the US-Africa Leaders Summit requested, in Washington DC, the repeal of the United States of America Act, which provides for punishing countries involved in business with Russia.
The measure was announced this Friday, in the North American capital, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, who said that there was a demand from Africa, in the sense of lifting the Law, to avoid impediments to the partnerships of African States.
It is a diploma created to punish with sanctions the African countries involved in trade with Russia, in view of the scenario of military conflict between that country and Ukraine, ongoing for several months.
The diploma, entitled “Law to Combat Malicious Activities of Russia in Africa “, was presented by the Republican Party, but received support from the Democratic Party, having been approved in April this year, in the Chamber of Deputies.
“Africa demanded that this law be lifted, so that there would be no impediment to the partnerships that the African continent has developed”, underlined the Angolan minister, who said that he had also been asked to lift the embargo against Zimbabwe.
The US imposed financial and travel sanctions on Zimbabwe’s political, military and economic elite, as well as state-linked companies, nearly two decades ago.
The measure was due to violent mass seizures of white-owned land, alleged electoral fraud and human rights violations by former President Robert Mugabe (deceased).
Zimbabwe was considered, until independence in 1980, one of the most promising economies in Africa. It currently has deficiencies in its health system, water supply, transport and public infrastructure.
“The continent thinks that sanctions greatly affect countries and economic integration itself. Just look at the southern region, what Zimbabwe was in the past and what it is today. This country’s contribution to regional integration has also suffered”, expressed Téte António.
Regarding the overall results of the Washington Summit, the official said that it was positive for the African States and for the US, in that all the topics dealt with were around the six priorities defined by Africa.
According to the minister, the priorities of the African continent have to do with the issue of peace, security, fight against terrorism, construction of infrastructures, reallocation of the right of special drawings and the suspension of the debt, which has a tremendous weight in the economies .
Likewise, he said that the African States presented support for the issue of climate change as priorities on their cooperation agenda with the US (Africa needs US$86 billion for the adaptation program), and food sovereignty.
“Those who cannot feed themselves can hardly speak of sovereignty. Whoever feeds you also takes away sovereignty at the same time. We thought it was necessary to make this a priority for the African continent”, defended the minister.
Another pillar pointed out by Téte António, who marked the talks with the authorities of the United States of America, has to do with the desire of Africans to get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and become members of the G20.
“These are the priorities that the continent had, and we think that due to the topics scheduled for this summit, there was a full response from the American side, which will support the inclusion of Africa in the G20, as an African Union, and support the African claim for a place standing on the UN Security Council,” he declared.
According to the Angolan minister, in the last session of the Summit, held on Thursday, the US government devoted itself to the analysis of Agenda 2063, of the African Union, which contemplates the priorities of the Member States.
“It is a totally different approach, which has to do with responding to the priorities of the African continent”, he concluded. The Washington Summit, an initiative of President Joe Biden, supported by the African Union, took place from 13 to 15 December, with the participation of more than 49 African leaders, including the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.
During the first two days, several events were held, with emphasis on the Youth Forum and the Eximbank Annual Congress, which had more than 100 participants.
On Wednesday, the Business Forum took place, at which the President of Angola spoke on the panel on the theme “Building a Sustainable Future: Partnerships to Finance African Infrastructure and the Energy Transition”.
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