Foreign Minister: Sudan War a Model of Greed for Africa’s Resources
Foreign Minister and Minister of International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohi El-Din Salem, participated in a high-level dialogue session during the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Future: Strategy, Scale, and Competitiveness.”
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized that the African continent is one of the world’s richest regions in terms of natural resources. However, these resources have often been a primary cause of conflict and fueled foreign interventions driven by greed. He pointed out that the war in Sudan is a clear example of this.
The Minister stressed that the challenge is not limited to attracting investments, but extends to ensuring that local communities benefit from these investments. He emphasized the need to adopt more balanced policies that guarantee development while preserving the environment, citing the environmental degradation in some resource extraction areas, which negatively impacts the lives of residents.
Salem also highlighted the importance of regional integration in maximizing resource utilization through the development of shared value chains and the coordination of investment policies, thereby strengthening the negotiating power of African countries.
In this context, he pointed to the significant financing challenges facing the continent, including infrastructure and trade financing gaps estimated at hundreds of billions annually. This necessitates greater mobilization of private capital, alongside the role of regional and international financial institutions.
The minister reviewed the investment opportunities available in Sudan, particularly given its strategic location on the Red Sea with a coastline stretching over 800 kilometers, which qualifies it to be a pivotal hub for trade and investment in Africa.
He affirmed that Sudan, despite the current challenges, remains open to investment, relying on a strong national will for reconstruction, thus offering promising opportunities for regional and international partners.
The minister concluded his remarks by emphasizing that transforming Africa’s resources from a source of conflict into a driver of development requires strengthening national sovereignty, integrating regional efforts, and building fair and sustainable partnerships that serve the interests of the continent’s people, thereby transforming the continent’s wealth into a solid foundation for stability and development.