Elysée summit: Africa invited to Paris in early December PARIS (Xinhua) - The Elysée summit for peace and security in Africa must meet in Paris on 6 and 7 December, at the invitation of French President Francois Hollande, many leaders of African states. According to political observers, the summit is part of efforts by France to maintain its traditional influence on the African continent, where she has been accused in the past of being Gendarme of Africa for throwing response operations controversial, especially in Libya and Ivory Coast. In total, representatives of 42 African countries, 54 states on the continent that account should be gathered at the Elysee Palace in order to address issues of conflict and insecurity that affect their continent. The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon and the President of the Commission of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will also be present, without forgetting the delegations of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This summit should focus in particular on various political and security crises affecting the African continent, like the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), where the French army is preparing to intervene on the side of a military forces of the African Union (MISCA). It will be the second military operation undertaken by France on African soil in one year. In January 2013, French soldiers were sent to Mali to stop the advance of jihadist groups. Several heads of state of the African continent are expected at this event, especially Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from Mali (IBK), the Burkinabe Blaise Compaoré, the Congolese Denis Sassou Nguesso, Gabons Ali Bongo Ondimba and Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema . According to the magazine Jeune Afrique, the presidents entourage Holland welcomes the arrival of these heavyweights in Francophone Africa. Other leaders were not invited because of their conflict with the International Criminal Court (Sudan and Zimbabwe) or suspension of their country by the African Union after a coup (Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic and Egypt). Invitations have been sent to them anyway, but not at the highest level, said Pan African weekly, citing a source in Paris. These countries will therefore be represented. South Africa will not be represented by President Jacob Zuma, who recently indicated his absence, citing an important meeting of his party, the African National Congress (ANC). The withdrawal of this key player in non-Francophone African community is a blow to the French policy in Africa. President Hollande had indeed visited South Africa in October for an official two-day visit, indicating a desire for bilateral rapprochement. Zuma was then suggested he would probably present at the Summit of the Elysee. Other heads of state decided to send a representative. This is the case of the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, who said send his Foreign Minister, and the Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika, still convalescent, to be represented by its Prime Minister. French President announced the organization of the summit on the 50th anniversary of the African Union last May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is the meaning of the Elysée summit to be held in December, eight months after the African Union has decided to create a capacity to respond to crises, and six months after the meeting on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, which has taken action against piracy, said French President François Hollande, in August 2013 on the occasion of the Conference of Ambassadors. Europe will be represented at the Paris Summit. Because it is together that we must meet the demands of African countries for training, supervision and equipment of their armies, said François Hollande to ambassadors, adding: For this continent is full future. They must be able by itself to control its destiny. France will be at his side. Without seeking nothing for itself. François Hollande, who has repeatedly stated that French is over, indeed summoned, 6 and 7 Decembers at the Elysee Palace, his first France-Africa summit, felt some political observers.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 19:02:24 +0000
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