Tunisia-Jerandi points to need to diversify Africa’s economic partnerships

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Othman Jerandi Wednesday pointed to the need to diversify Africa’s economic and trade partnership. 

Speaking before the 40th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, held on February 2-3 in Addis Ababa, the FM further highlighted the need to reach a sustainable development that boosts the African citizens’ purchasing power and ensures their well-being and economic integration at the local and international levels, a Foreign Ministry press release reads.

Jerandi also affirmed Tunisia’s conviction that solidarity between African countries helps iron out all the obstacles facing the continent, commending the setting up of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which, according to him, is a lever for the African economy and an efficient mechanism to achieve the “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

The FM reiterated Tunisia’s thanks and gratitude to the African countries for granting it the honour to host the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) next August 27-28.

In this regard, he briefed the AU Executive Council on the ongoing preparations to ensure the success of this Summit.

As regards Tunisia’s bid for membership of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for the 2022-2024 period, the FM outlined Tunisia’s approach and called on the African countries to support Tunisia’s bid, considering the importance it attaches to peace and security issues in Africa as key foundations of the Continent’s stability and development.

This mission is a continuation of Tunisia’s action as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council over the past two years, Jerandi indicated.

On the issue of combating COVID-19, the minister urged the African countries to step up solidarity to deal with the repercussions of this pandemic, recalling in this regard the efforts made by Tunisia during its term in the Security Council to exhort the international community to support Africa in meeting the economic and social challenges imposed by the health crisis.

On the fringes of this 40th Ordinary Session Jerandi had talks with his counterparts of Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Djibouti, Niger, Mauritania, Comoros, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Chad and Libya, as part of efforts to rally support for Tunisia’s bid to join the AU Peace and Security Council.

(TAP)