Greater economic prosperity for SA and Guinea Bissau
28 April 2022
Trade and investment relationships between South Africa and Guinea Bissau are being deepened, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Greater economic prosperity should underpin everything that we do and this is what we intend to focus on as we deepen our relations between our two countries. Our goal for this State Visit has been to deepen trade and investment between South Africa and Guinea Bissau,“ said the President.
The President was speaking to the media following a state visit by Guinea Bissau President General Umaro Sissoco Embaló and a delegation of his Ministers.
“We have communicated to President Embaló and his delegation that we would like to see South African companies being able to do work in Guinea Bissau as they develop their country from an agricultural point of view, infrastructure and in a number of other areas. Similarly, those Guinea Bissauan companies that may want to come and operate in South Africa should also be able to do so,” he said.
Other key agreements are expected to be reached on healthcare, defence, mineral resources as well as diplomatic relations with energy and agriculture also set to be discussed.
The President said the visit gave the two countries an opportunity to “consolidate the relations that we’ve had over a long time… [stemming] back from history when we were involved in the struggle against colonialism.”
Africa's tolerance for coups "no longer exists"
President Ramaphosa emphasised, however, that stability on the African continent is key to achieving economic prosperity for all countries.
He said coups – which have surged in several parts of Africa over the past few years – undermine the African Union’s efforts to “silence the guns” on the continent.
“It is of great concern to both of our countries that conflicts that are continuing on several parts of the continent. It is our moral and political duty in our continent that we should work together to achieve an Africa that is free of conflict and be able to provide the citizens of our beloved continent with safe and secure environments,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said the African Union and its Member States are demonstrating that the acceptance of unconstitutional takeovers of governments on the continent will not be tolerated.
The West African country was involved in an attempted coup earlier this year.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa has always advocated for peaceful negotiation in any conflict situation.
“As a continent, we have a lot to learn from our previous experiences. We also, equally, have a lot to learn in the way that ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] is dealing with these – much as it is experiencing a spate of coups. The determination and the decisiveness in the leadership of ECOWAS is something that stands out as a very good example for the rest of the continent.
“I think the continent is moving and maturing towards a state where tolerance for coups and acceptance of coups is now a thing of the past. The AU has taken a very clear and strong position on this, and I think it sends a very strong and important message to those who would want to perpetrate coups that they will have no place to hide and action will also be taken against them."
President Ramaphosa reflected that Southern Africa has experienced “relative” stability over the last few years, with only a few countries facing difficulties.
“The only sense of instability has been in Mozambique, for instance, in Cabo Delgado with insurgents... Lesotho has largely resolved [its challenges] and they are moving forward with their elections and reforms so that in many ways behoves well for greater stability not only for our region but for the rest of the continent.
“I do believe that the guns should be silenced as soon as we move forward as the African Union as well,” he said.
Russia/Ukraine conflict
President Ramaphosa told the briefing that he believes talks between Ukraine and Russia on the ongoing conflict are a step in the right direction.
“We have, as South Africa, been calling for negotiations and our call for negotiation is based on the principle we have always held… that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. We were well taught by the great Nelson Mandela, who always thought that conflicts should be resolved in that way,” he said.
The President has previously had conversations with leaders of both nations, urging them to have a dialogue to end the conflict.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s discussions and meetings is something that we believe is a step in the right direction. In my discussions with them separately, I stressed that it is through negotiations and dialogue that this conflict can be resolved, and we are really pleased that that is now underway.
“We are really hoping and wishing and praying that it should lead to an agreement that will lead to a cessation of the hostilities and the end of the conflict as well, so that the lives of the people in both countries, and largely in the Ukraine, can be restored and peace can find fertile ground once again,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
Photo: Kopano Tlape - GCIS