At the Africa Defense Ministers' Conference in Addis Ababa, former head of government Hailemariam Dessalegn highlighted the urgent need for African countries to engage in strategic talks, local media reported on Tuesday.
He argued that aligning their policies and finding common ground could boost Africa's influence on the global scene.
Moreover, Hailemariam called for an African Renaissance, pushing for the continent to claim its deserved spot on the world stage. He also pointed out how past global systems have overlooked Africa, raising doubts about the benefits of globalization, especially since the continent is so dependent on foreign aid and raw material exports.
By drawing comparisons with rising powers like China and India, he showed how those countries have thrived by using globalization to their advantage. Hailemariam urged African countries to come together with "one mind, one voice, and one energy" to promote their shared interests and redefine Africa’s place in the world, cautioning that without major changes, Africa might continue to be sidelined.
In turn, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, noted that almost all regions of Africa are faced with the spread of armed groups, including rebels and terrorists, which in turn leads to large-scale movements of refugees, human rights violations, and unconstitutional changes in government.
At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Temesgen Tiruneh, noted that in recent years, peace and security problems have spread to those regions of Africa that were once considered safe.
According to the Minister of Defense of Ethiopia, Aisha Mohammed, the security conference is aimed at collectively discussing solutions to problems for peace and security, as well as developing partnerships in the African defense industry by attracting ideas from countries with more advanced experience. She echoed Hailemariam, emphasizing the need to unite African countries in the fight against threats that can destabilize the continent and hinder its socio-economic progress.