Mankeur Ndiaye, ambassador emeritus and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, emphasizes the importance of strengthening resilience in the face of global crises and streamlining regional economic communities. According to him, AfCFTA is a key lever for integration.
During the 16th edition of the MEDays Forum, Mankeur Ndiaye, ambassador emeritus and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, highlighted the contemporary challenges facing Africa and the world. He reiterated the importance of resilience, an issue more relevant than ever in light of multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sovereignty and Resilience in a Disrupted WorldMankeur Ndiaye stressed that sovereignty, which has been a historical concern for nations, remains crucial. Today, the need for resilience is even more urgent. The former Senegalese minister described a deeply imbalanced world, where a vast majority of nations are considered poor while a small elite holds the wealth. In this context, he underscored the primary importance of international solidarity in tackling global challenges.
Regional Integration in Africa: A Project of SolidarityAnother point addressed by Mankeur Ndiaye was regional integration in Africa, particularly the need to strengthen intra-African solidarity. "While the African continent hosts several regional economic communities, only eight are officially recognized by the African Union, despite the existence of many others,” he noted. However, "the reality is that these structures struggle to function effectively. Some have been in crisis for years, facing internal rivalries, funding problems, and at times a lack of political will,” he added.
He cited the example of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), once a model of regional success. Today, according to him, "the organization is facing an internal crisis, with three of its founding members withdrawing to create an alliance of Sahel States, thereby reducing ECOWAS to 12 members. This situation raises questions about the viability of the organization without these key states,” he lamented.
AfCFTA as a Lever for IntegrationIn this context, Mankeur Ndiaye emphasized the need to rationalize regional economic communities. He also highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched five years ago, as a strategic response to strengthen intra-African trade and stimulate investments. "A key objective of this initiative, often overlooked, is to reduce the proliferation of overlapping regional organizations, which is a major obstacle to the continent's integration,” he specified.
Morocco's Unifying RoleMankeur Ndiaye also praised Morocco's historical role in strengthening regional integration in Africa. "Since its return to the African Union in January 2017, Morocco has managed to establish itself as a key player in promoting solidarity and peace on the continent. Through multiple initiatives, the Kingdom works towards a more united and stable Africa,” he said. For him, one thing is clear: "Morocco continues to play a leading role in South-South unity, and its example in implementing resilience policies against global challenges positions Africa on the path to a new global balance.”