Algerian Radio
The convergence between the contents of the Final Declaration of the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Africa-Russia Partnership Forum, held in Cairo on December 19 and 20, and the address by the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, reflects a profound alignment of views. This convergence confirms the consistency of the Algerian position regarding African and international issues and cements Algeria's status as a pivotal actor in the promotion of African and international partnerships.
This alignment is manifested through a perfect harmony between the Final Declaration’s call for the elimination of colonization and neocolonialism, the preservation of historical memory, and the guarantee of the right of peoples to reparations, and the unwavering Algerian position reaffirmed by Mr. Attaf. The latter is founded on the criminalization of colonization as an essential element for achieving historical justice. The Minister recalled that Algeria, which hosted an international conference in early December for the unequivocal legal criminalization of colonization, "firmly supports the idea of establishing an international day of struggle against this ignominious phenomenon, which has no place in today's world nor in tomorrow's."
The Final Declaration noted that the African Union (AU) theme for the year 2025, "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations," is timely and aligns with the spirit of the times. It underscored the need to pursue joint action to preserve the historical memory of colonial-era crimes and their consequences, as well as to create legal mechanisms to assess the harm suffered by African states during the colonial period and ensure their reparation.
The document also reported a convergence of views regarding the principles of national sovereignty and the rejection of external interference, calling for respect for international law and the refusal of any approach susceptible to threatening the stability of the African continent.
In the same context, the document highlighted the importance of respecting comprehensive African solutions, with support from partners when necessary. It condemned the intervention of external parties in fueling conflicts on the continent, while reaffirming the commitment to promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly through the facilitation of inclusive dialogue and cooperation in conflict prevention.
This same approach was highlighted by Mr. Attaf, who maintained that the Africa-Russia partnership "must aim at strengthening national capacities, rejecting foreign interference, and promoting political approaches and peaceful solutions."
In this wake, the link established between the Final Declaration's content regarding the importance of prioritizing African solutions to African problems, and the Minister of State's affirmation of making this principle the cornerstone of crisis management, translates a common conviction. It emphasizes the imperative of allowing African countries to lead settlement efforts, far from externally imposed approaches, which have shown their limits in addressing security and political challenges on the continent.
Algeria also welcomed "the Afro-Russian attachment to the principle of African solutions to African problems, in a context marked by the exacerbation of terrorist threats on a continental scale and the multiplication of hotspots of tension, crisis, and conflict."
Regarding the fight against terrorism, the convergence between the Final Declaration and the Algerian approach appears clearly, particularly by emphasizing permanent dialogue mechanisms, drying up sources of terrorist financing, and adopting Algeria's principles as an integrated reference for treating the phenomenon in its security, intellectual, and developmental dimensions, rather than contenting with temporary measures.
The Declaration commended the group of three African countries (A3) at the Security Council for promoting and defending African positions within the Council, as well as their significant contributions to strengthening international and regional peace and security.
Furthermore, it reaffirmed the commitment to work towards a more equitable distribution of roles in handling issues on the United Nations Security Council agenda, based on the need to increase the participation of African countries in drafting documents relating to peace and security on the continent.
