A CAFRAD delegation, led by the Director General, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI, and Ms. Mariette NEMBOT, Training and Research Assistant, participated in the 16th edition of the MEDays Forum which was held from November 27 to 30, 2024 in Tangier, this beautiful city in Morocco. This forum, organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, was themed “Sovereignties and Resilience: Towards a New Global Balance”. It brought together participants from cities across the nation and notably from a large number of countries from diverse backgrounds around the world.

The debates in this edition explored the crucial issues linked to national sovereignty and resilience in the face of global crises. This included debating themes such as food security, energy transition and energy sovereignty; technological innovation, cyber security and digital resilience, as well as the complexity of the current geopolitical landscape, marked by multiple crises requiring concerted efforts and a desire to review thought patterns and structures inherited from the past to build a new global balance that is more responsible, equitable, peaceful and sustainable.

The MEDays 2024 Forum also focused special attention on Africa and its role in a multipolar world, exploring ways to strengthen the multifaceted sovereignty of nations and build shared resilience. With this in mind, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Her Excellency, Mrs. Judith SUMINWA TULUKA promoted this vast fertile ground in front of political and economic decision-makers, international investors and experts on investment opportunities and win-win partnerships.

She described her country as a geological scandal in view of the vast potential market of 250 million consumers, the immensity of the “one and indivisible” territory which is full of a great diversity of natural wealth. She highlighted the multiple sectors in which the DRC offers real investment opportunities ranging from electricity to agriculture, including infrastructure, industry, digital technology and tourism, H.E. Ms. Judith SUMINWA TULUKA insisted on the unprecedented potential of his country located in the heart of Africa, its accessibility which offers a plurality of business opportunities. She was accompanied for the occasion by a strong delegation including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Economy; of the Minister of Mines, and the Minister of Foreign Trade.

The participation of CAFRAD in this important international meeting allowed the delegation of the Pan-African Intergovernmental Organization to exchange with delegations of its member countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Libya , Madagascar, Niger, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Gambia), and other partners on subjects of common interest related to capacity building of administrations so that they are equipped to rethink their systems and transform the various challenges imposed by the global situation into opportunities for Africa’s growth towards effective sustainable and inclusive development.