Ivory Coast: Adama Bictogo, invites his peers to put Africa at the heart of decisions

Adama Bictogo, the President of the Ivorian National Assembly, represented the Head of State at the 5th Paris Peace Forum this Saturday. A forum that aims to foster global unity around common standards in the face of issues such as climate change, Covid-19, socio-economic inequalities and geopolitical conflicts Mr. Adama urged Forum participants to promote an equal world, putting Africa at the heart of decisions, during the second day of the Paris Peace Forum, organized under the theme “Overcoming the multi-crisis”. He invited the international community to change the paradigm in the consideration of the news of the African continent. In this regard, he pleaded so that the momentum of solidarity which prevails on the world level at the bedside of Ukraine, can be applied to Africa permanently in the grip of conflicts. H.E. Adama Bictogo also pleaded for Africa to be able to freely dispose of its natural energy resources such as gas, especially since the world’s decision-makers are now using them in a context where the Russian-Ukrainian war is leading Europe to reuse the gas. “Africa is barely at 50% of the normal rate of covering its internal needs. But at the same time we are often asked not to use gas production because renewable energies are prioritized,” he said. Then, he noted the harmful effects of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on the African continent which is not yet a party to the conflict, suggesting that Africa is far from this war which has led many countries to experience galloping inflation that cannot be contained.

Based on the idea that international cooperation is essential to meet global challenges and ensure lasting peace, the Paris Peace Forum aims to bring together and interact, each year, all actors in global governance. Since 2018, the Forum has been highlighting governance projects or initiatives by proposing solutions and concrete actions to face global challenges. These solutions are distinguished by their international and multi-actor dimension, and by their ability to create lasting change within global governance.