African leaders call for ceasefire in Gaza at Saudi-Africa Summit

At the first-ever Saudi-Africa Summit held in Riyadh from November 10 to 12, African leaders showcased a unified stand on the Gaza war, urging for a ceasefire.

The joint “Riyadh Declaration” issued at the summit brought together heads of state, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Djibouti, Mauritania, Seychelles, along with prime ministers and high-ranking officials from Ethiopia, Niger, and Egypt.

Also among the Summit guests was Gabon’s transitional leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, who deposed longtime president Ali Bongo in a coup in August.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the assembled leaders vehemently condemned the ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza and emphasized the urgency to halt military operations in the besieged enclave.

They reiterated the need “to guarantee the Palestinian people their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the SPA reported.

Kenya’s President, William Ruto, also reiterated the African leaders’ stance in a speech: “We believe that terrorism cannot be an answer to any conflict, neither is occupation,” he said.

“We believe that Palestine should be a free state and we stand for a two-nation solution.”

More than 11,100 civilians have been killed in Gaza, says the Gaza health Ministry, since Israel began bombing the strip on October 7.

The summit’s pivotal discussion wasn’t limited to geopolitics; it extended to fostering robust economic ties between the African continent and Saudi Arabia.

Notably, the Saudi government pledged a substantial $25 billion investment in Africa over the next decade, according to SPA.

The KSA highlighted its commitment to bolster economic development and partnership with the continent.

Also, more than 250 cooperation agreements were signed covering political, economic and development fields.

During the three-day summit, the Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, outlined the Kingdom’s intent to initiate “game-changing” investments in Africa through the Public Investment Fund.

African leaders present at the summit hailed this commitment as a promising start towards a more impactful collaboration.

President William Ruto emphasized the significance of the gathering, describing it as “a meeting of neighbors”.

He said it signaled a renewed sense of unity and cooperation.

Similarly, the Seychellois President, Wavel Ramkalawan, stressed the importance of mutual respect and equality between Africa and Saudi Arabia in their partnership, calling for a balanced and fruitful alliance.

The summit’s resonance extends beyond the call for peace in Gaza and economic agreements.

It underscores the growing influence of Africa in a world marked by geopolitical divides.

Notably, this comes in the wake of similar engagements by other powerful nations and blocs such as the EU, the United States, Russia, and China, all seeking to reinforce ties with the African continent for political and trade collaboration.

The Saudi-Africa Summit stands as a testament to the evolving global landscape, where diplomatic relations and economic partnerships intertwine, offering hope for a more connected and unified world.

The engagement has set the stage for a new era of collaboration, potentially reshaping alliances and impacting global dynamics.

However, analysts say Africa must approach global partnerships as a bloc, not as individual countries, if it must wield any significant influence on the global stage.

Mimi Mefo Info