Africa: Sino-Africa cooperation forum, the AES in a win-win partnership
During the ongoing China-Africa Cooperation Forum, in Beijing, the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) made a bold statement, demonstrating a clear sense of pride and determination.
Unlike the historical narrative of seeking aid, the AES leaders, spearheaded by acting President Colonel Assimi Goïta, are positioning themselves to establish partnerships rooted in mutual benefit with China, a global economic powerhouse.
This assertive approach was underscored in a strategic meeting between President Goïta and the Nigerien and Burkinabe delegations, led by Prime Ministers Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine and Apollinaire Kyélem De Tambéla, respectively.
Together, they outlined a shared vision to maximize their cooperation with China while safeguarding the core interests of Sahelian nations.
The AES’s message is unequivocal: they are not coming as supplicants but as equal partners.
With an abundance of natural resources and vast human potential, these countries see themselves not merely as beneficiaries but as active contributors to Sino-African relations.
Prime Minister Zeine of Niger encapsulated this stance, declaring, “We haven’t come here to beg.
Our countries are rich in both human and natural resources. We’re here, with full confidence, to offer what we have and ask China to engage with African nations on equal footing.”
This assertive and dignified stance signals a clear departure from the past, where African nations were often perceived as aid-dependent. Today, the AES champions fair and balanced trade relations where all parties benefit equally.
This strategy not only sends a powerful message to China but also signals to the global community that Sahelian countries are ready to take an active role in the international arena as full-fledged participants in global development.
The AES’s approach at this forum illustrates a commitment to taking control of their economic and political destiny by prioritizing partnerships that respect the sovereignty and interests of Sahelian nations.
This vision, driven by President Goïta and backed by Prime Ministers Zeine and Kyélem De Tambéla, sets a new standard for other African nations, showing that Africa can and must engage on the world stage with confidence, demanding relationships based on equality and mutual respect.
Ali Zoungrana
