Russia-Africa Summit Is Opportunity for Africa to Speak for Itself – Gov’t Chief

The Russia-Africa Summit is an opportunity for Africa to speak for itself, said on Friday in Saint Petersburg the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, who represents HM King Mohammed VI at the 2nd edition of this international event. “I represent His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, at this Africa-Russia Summit. This meeting was an opportunity for Africa to speak for itself,” Akhannouch told the press, following his participation in a plenary session of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, taking place on July 27 and 28 in Russia’s cultural capital. “As HM the King affirms in His speeches, Africa is an independent continent guided by its priorities and which decides on the strategic partnerships it wishes to establish,” he stressed, noting that Morocco has a strategic partnership with Africa and with several major countries. ”Today, we note that in his speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised all the efforts made by HM the King and expressed his pride in the solid relations with Morocco and highlighted their future prospects,” noted Akhannouch. Speaking on behalf of Morocco at the event, which was attended by several African heads of state and government, the Head of Government highlighted the Royal Vision for strengthening Africa’s relations with its various partners. His Majesty King Mohammed VI “was the first to stress the need for a new approach to the African continent on the part of its traditional partners”, said Akhannouch. This orientation, he recalled, was moreover expressed on several occasions, notably in the speech delivered by His Majesty at the opening of the Morocco-Ivorian Economic Forum in Abidjan in 2014. In that message, the Sovereign had stated that Africa “does not need assistance so much as mutually profitable partnerships. Africa needs human and social development projects much more than it needs humanitarian aid.”