Addis Ababa: The competition for resources and strategic positions is escalating, exacerbating existing problems while also offering innovative pathways for advancing and safeguarding Africa’s interests, Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Jafar Bedru remarked.

The Institute of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, has organized a two-day conference with a theme ‘Africa: Challenges of Fragility and Capitalizing on International Competition.’

The conference highlighted the immediate need for collective action in tackling Africa’s challenges, while also acknowledging the potential for innovation and growth in a competitive international arena.

Speaking at the conference, the Executive Director said that the conference aims to address the challenges of fragility while capitalizing on international competition in Africa.

He highlighted how a rise in global power competition has exacerbated the existing global crisis, which some termed as an era of ‘globa
l polycrisis.’

The global geo-economic and geopolitical dynamics have significantly shifted the existing global power arrangement that has been in place since the end of the Cold War.

These power shifters resulted in what some called a multipolar order that have resulted in global interstate tensions, war and a prevalence of violence, he added.

International competition for Africa’s resources is intensifying, resulting in a heightened, struggles for its market and strategic positions.

‘This competition not only exacerbates the continent’s existing challenges, both chronic and immediate, but also presents a genuine opportunity to advance and protect Africa’s interests in innovative ways, such as partnerships, mutual beneficiary agreements.’

Recognizing these immense challenges we face in this era of poly crisis, this conference and dialog and discussion will make a contribution to policy making by exploring critical questions, such as, “how can African nations effectively balance their national, regional
and continental policies and strategies to foster their interests while addressing the prevailing challenges in the face of shifting global and regional power dynamic,” he elaborated.

Ambassador Reta Alemu, Director-General for International Legal Affairs of the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry, highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing the African continent.

He noted that many countries have endured prolonged conflicts, which have exposed them to ongoing instability and fragility. This fragile governmental structure has fostered a sense of insecurity in numerous nations.

Ambassador Reta Alemu emphasized the critical need to harness the potential of Africa’s young and educated workforce to drive innovation and technology, thereby advancing the continent’s economic profile.

The geographic proximity between the Middle East, Arab countries, and Africa, the cultural and societal relationship will serve as a basis to enhance the engagement in all sectors.

Therefore, he noted the conference would p
rovide valuable insights into how to promote these vital relationships.

He reiterated Ethiopia’s strategic position as a key player on the continent and its role as a gateway to African diplomacy, setting the stage for fruitful dialogues.

Manager of Research at Aljazeera Center for Studies, Ezzeddine Abdelmoula said we in Africa and in the Arab world need to have strong cooperation.

‘We in Africa and in the Arab world, we need to have strong cooperation. We need to have some kind of understanding in order to bring about implementable recommendations and to provide insights to the decision makers.’

Africa is quite tempting for quite a number of international actors he said, asking ‘because of the natural resources that Africa has, human resources that Africa has.

Therefore, he elaborated it is a no brainer that many international actors are competing to have some kind of leverage in Africa, and this manifests itself in different summits.

‘We need to understand that many international actors are trying to
have some kind of leverage in Africa.’

Director of IGAD Security Sector Program, Commander Abebe Muluneh highlighted external intervention including great powers and Middle Eastern countries influenced the political, economic, and social situations in Africa.

These external actors, driven by their interests and rivalries have shaped the continent’s peace and security landscape, he said, adding African states would benefit more from cooperation with favored nations including the Gulf Countries, rather than remaining fragmented.

Fragmentation allows the external manipulation, that further complicating Africa’s peace and security challenges.

Therefore, he emphasized that the necessity for coherent strategies to address the challenges facing the continent.

A series of scholarly papers were presented on various topics, reflecting the intricacies of Africa’s current situation: The Impact of Debt on the Fragility of African States, Terrorism and Piracy: Persistent and Evolving Threats, Border Crises in Africa:
Internal Challenges and Foreign Engagement. Each scholar shared their insights, contributing to a comprehensive discussion on the multifaceted issues impacting the continent.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency