African Union (AU) Chairperson Paul Kagame said strengthening cooperation with BRICS on areas of industrialisation and peace and security will contribute to the development of the African continent and improve prospects for the youth.
The Rwandan president who represented the continental body at the 10th BRICS Summit made the remarks while addressing delegates in Johannesburg on Friday.
“Industrialisation makes more sense when we factor in new technologies. For Africa, the challenge is to ensure that the current momentum is not lost to us, but rather maintained and even increased,” Kagame said.
“Second, strengthening cooperation with BRICS contributes to medium- and long-term human security and wider benefits, especially employment, for Africa’s young population,” he said.
On the last day of the three-day summit, BRICS leaders met with invited African leaders and some heads of states from the South African Development Community (SADAC) as part of the BRICS Outreach Dialogue.
Senegal was invited to taken part in the event as chair of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and Togo participated as chair of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). The host nation also invited Uganda as chair of the East African Community (EAC).
Other African leaders who joined Friday’s session include President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Zambian President Edgar Lungu, President Hage Geingob of Namibia, President Filipe Nyusi from Mozambique.
Kagame said that all these issues raised at the summit were part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“There is clearly a convergence of interests between Africa and BRICS members. What is most needed is a mechanism for effective delivery on agreed areas,” Kagame said.
Chairing the BRICS Outreach Dialogue, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that meeting with other leaders of the non-BRICS members countries was very crucial in cultivating cooperation between the parties.
“The BRICS-Africa Dialogue Forum holds special significance for South Africa, as it seeks to build a more inclusive partnership between the leaders of BRICS countries and the elected leaders of African institutions,” he said.
