Focus: African integration
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Focus: African integration

Focus — Friday, January 26, 2018

African integration lies at the heart of the political and diplomatic vision set out by President of the Republic, Macky Sall. In an inter-connected world, Africa owes it to itself to be united. Our Continent must find the new governance modes it needs to weigh on the globalisation process.

A compelling vision of African unity

Since coming to power, the President of the Republic instituted ever more initiatives for greater African integration. Elected President of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Steering Committee, he has always championed a vision of a more integrated Africa. The Head of State has illustrated this deeply-rooted conviction by taking the lead in multiple major African bodies. As President of ECOWAS in 2015, Chairman of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Steering Committee, Vice-President of the ZLEC negotiating bodies, the Head of State has taken his vision of a united Africa to the continental level.

In May 2017, it invited continental and non-regional member countries of the African Development Bank Group to approve the latter's recapitalization in order to further attainment of the continent's development challenges.

Concrete initiatives in favour of integration

In addition to these projects and achievements, other integration initiatives are already operational. For example, the Abidjan protocol signed in January 2017 introduced Free Roaming. This agreement aims to step up the mobility of West African populations through ICT. It fosters regional integration through a partnership between eight countries: Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo and, since 12 December 2017, Benin.

The common passport and the work on the common biometric identity card, currently being deployed in Senegal, are examples of the African integration process defended by the Head of State.

The road to African integration is still long. However, it is certain that President Macky Sall will continue to champion his vision of an integrated and unified Africa. 

Economic integration is a priority because it solves the problems of unemployment, adapting to globalisation and security.

The President has made this clear on multiple occasions: “One of the keys to the fight against terrorism is African economic integration.”