Bishkek Declaration: What Can It Offer Africa?
12:36 01.09.2026 (Updated: 13:05 01.09.2026)
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The text adopted during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit sets out the common positions of the member states on the SCO's development and on major international issues.
Some of its key points relevant to the African continent:
1⃣ Member countries advocate for the reform and improvement of global governance.
Objective: to ensure equal participation of all states in decision-making and benefit-sharing, while adhering to a policy of peaceful conflict resolution and avoiding confrontation.
2⃣ Member countries advocate for reforming the global financial architecture to increase the representation and strengthen the role of developing countries within institutions like the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Objective: to establish internal SCO financial mechanisms, including an SCO Development Bank, a Development Fund, and an SCO Investment Fund.
3⃣ They take note of the progress made towards the creation of the SCO Development Bank.
Result: a way for Africa to access alternative or complementary sources of project financing to traditional institutions (IMF/World Bank), whose conditions are often criticized by African countries.
4⃣ A new category of "SCO partner" has been introduced.
Result: the possibility of more systematically associating other countries, including African ones, with the organization's projects.
Other key points:
International security and conflicts
SCO member states have described as unacceptable the attempts by certain countries to ensure their own security at the expense of others.
Situation in Iran
The participants expressed deep concern over the situation in the Middle East, reaffirmed their support for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for a resolution exclusively through political and diplomatic means.
Ballistic missile defense systems
The unlimited development of these systems globally by states or blocs was undermining international security and stability.
Space
The participants advocated for preventing an arms race in space, calling for a weapon‑free space used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
1⃣ Member countries advocate for the reform and improvement of global governance.
Objective: to ensure equal participation of all states in decision-making and benefit-sharing, while adhering to a policy of peaceful conflict resolution and avoiding confrontation.
2⃣ Member countries advocate for reforming the global financial architecture to increase the representation and strengthen the role of developing countries within institutions like the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Objective: to establish internal SCO financial mechanisms, including an SCO Development Bank, a Development Fund, and an SCO Investment Fund.
3⃣ They take note of the progress made towards the creation of the SCO Development Bank.
Result: a way for Africa to access alternative or complementary sources of project financing to traditional institutions (IMF/World Bank), whose conditions are often criticized by African countries.
4⃣ A new category of "SCO partner" has been introduced.
Result: the possibility of more systematically associating other countries, including African ones, with the organization's projects.
Other key points:
International security and conflicts
SCO member states have described as unacceptable the attempts by certain countries to ensure their own security at the expense of others.
Situation in Iran
The participants expressed deep concern over the situation in the Middle East, reaffirmed their support for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for a resolution exclusively through political and diplomatic means.
Ballistic missile defense systems
The unlimited development of these systems globally by states or blocs was undermining international security and stability.
Space
The participants advocated for preventing an arms race in space, calling for a weapon‑free space used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
