Riyaz Patel
President Cyril Ramaphosa told counterparts at a G7 session in southern France that the African Union (AU) must be at the centre of the UN’s intervention strategy in Libya.
Ramaphosa said ‘African problems require African solutions,’ quickly adding that this must no just be a slogan, but rather “Our lived reality… We need to take determined action in addressing the issue.”
French President Emmanuel Macron invited President Ramaphosa to three working sessions that the G7 countries will host with their partners, including the G7 partnership with Africa, for which the Group of Seven seeks to chart a new course on peace and development across the continent.
Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in his capacity as head of the AU, met with President Ramaphosa and the Presidents of of Rwanda, Senegal, and Burkina Faso to coordinate a common African position on various issues to be discussed at the G7 Summit.
Egypt’s Presidential spokesperson, Bassam Rady, said Sisi asked for coordination and consultation to tackle the issues facing African countries. while underlining that the essence of relationships between Africa and the G7 countries must be based on equality and achieving common interests.
One of the strategic pillars guiding South Africa’s input at the G7 Leaders’ Summit is enhancing the African Agenda and promoting Africa’s sustainable development support through advocating for Africa’s priorities under the African Union’s #Agenda2063.
The leaders of the US, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Italy and Canada — the world’s seven largest, IMF-designated advanced economies — gathered in southern France for the year’s G7 summit amid mass protests.
Typically, the G7 summit ends with a final statement signed by all the leaders. However, that will be skipped this year in order to avoid potentially embarrassing disagreements over content and language.
Last year, US President Donald Trump walked out early from the G7 summit in Canada over criticism of his tariffs policy. He also refused to sign the final G7 communique.
