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Guinea’s President Alpha Condé, who currently fronts the African Union as President, has called for a new era of self-reliance to drive development and end poverty on the continent.

In an interview with Euronews in Paris, President Condé addressed issues that Europe and Africa face – most namely terrorism.

President Condé suggested that development was the only solution to ending both terrorism and poverty.

Extremism is flourishing in some spaces of the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa. Al-Qaeda linked attacks have rocked Niger and Mali and have also been staged in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania.

The Islamist extremist group Boko Haram is also attempting to destabilise northern Nigeria and Chad through a series of attacks.

“Terrorism flourishes on poverty and injustice, so if terrorism develops in Africa, it is because there is poverty,” Condé said.

The current threat of famine in east Africa has been labelled as the largest humanitarian crisis in the history of the United Nations, and with funding for the relief of affected countries – Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen – falling billions short, there is a danger that many will starve.

President Condé stated that climate, drought and wars are “largely responsible” for famine.

Condé also wants to see a new era of equality between Africa and Europe, as well as the wider world – he believes that the region could be a key platform in international trade.

“We can be a factory for Europe, provided they understand that it is a win-win cooperation and cooperation that brings a beneficial partnership for both,” he said.

However, as President of the African Union, Condé is calling for an era of self-reliance to begin in the continent.

“Africans must first begin by counting on themselves because the development of Africa will be done only by Africans,” he said.

Before adding, “We want Africa to be major, to be Africans deciding their future, and not to be told what to do.”