Windhoek
President Hage Geingob has been strongly praised for his efforts in promoting peace in Africa and consolidating the continent.
Doing the praising was the visiting Mali Prime Minister Modibo Keita, who is in the country on a four-day working visit which will operationalise the joint permanent cooperation commission between the two countries.
Keita made the remarks during the inauguration of the commission which was also attended by deputy prime minister and international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday afternoon.
“Please allow me on behalf of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of Mali, to salute his counterpart President Geingob for his laudable efforts towards African peace and integration,” he said
Geingob has been vocal in the transformation of Africa, and before taking office observers said he could be Africa’s champion and reportedly the right person to revive former South African president Thabo Mbeki’s African Renaissance idea.
Shortly after that, when he received the African Political Leader of the Year award, Geingob mooted the idea of a new Africa which is democratic and leading change in the world by moving away from the so-called ‘Savimbi Syndrome’.
Recently, the Namibian Cabinet resolved to abolish all visa requirements into the country for all African holders of diplomatic or official passports.
When she delivered her welcoming remarks, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the session provides an opportunity for the two countries to create an enabling environment to increase economic and trade relations.
“Our deliberations today will provide a platform to consolidate the relationship and cooperation between our countries,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“During the state visit by President Keïta, agriculture, mining, fisheries, education, research, culture, information and communication technology were identified as possible areas of cooperation between our two countries.”
“Therefore, as we engage each other, we have to find ways of developing appropriate frameworks that will enable us to move forward.”
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah the two countries can work together in the realization of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals or Agenda 2030.
She said: “Against that background our two countries can work to contribute to the realization of those important international frameworks for development.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that one of the AU flagship projects is silencing the guns by 2020 – and it is an important project as peace and security are prerequisites for sustainable development.
“As Africans, it is our mutual commitment that Mali and Namibia will become stronger and prosperous by joining forces to address common challenges and to take advantage of shared opportunities.”
It is her account that Mali continues to face challenges of extremism and terrorism.