(Ottawa) Canada risks becoming completely insignificant in Africa if it continues to distance itself from this continent economically, commercially and financially, experts warn.
According to them, the country’s reputation as a partner is increasingly fading to the benefit of Russia and China.
“Africa will be content with a completely platonic relationship with Canada if the current approach is maintained because it is so lukewarm,” underlines Stanley Achonu, the Nigerian director of the NGO One Campaign.
His organization, which fights extreme poverty and disease, testified this week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The Liberal government has been promising for years a strategy to increase Canada’s presence in Africa. A public consultation was launched in May on this subject.
In recent years, senators have warned that Canada is losing ground on a continent of more than a billion people.
Africa’s population could almost double by 2050. The World Bank said in 2020 that a continental free trade area “could allow African countries to lift 30 million people and more out of extreme poverty.” ‘increase the income of 68 million other people’.
However, they will not be able to achieve this without making improvements to governance, without building infrastructure and without restructuring their debts, underlined the Deputy Minister of International Development, Christopher MacLennan.
Testifying before the Senate committee, he said Canadian representatives still received a good reception in Africa. According to him, Canadian diplomats do not have to be as present in Africa as their European counterparts, since Canada must also, by its geographical position, focus its attention on the Indo-Pacific region.
Nicolas Moyer, the general director of Cuso International, also testified to the increased presence of China and Russia in certain countries to the detriment of Canada’s influence.
Canada needs Africa more than Africa needs Canada. If we continue to keep our distance from Africa, it would be more difficult to repair this relationship and build for the future.
Nicolas Moyer, Managing Director of Cuso International
Mr. Moyer mentioned that Canadian investments have helped bring about real change in Africa, particularly in terms of access to education for women and maternal health.
These investments have helped reduce cases of teenage motherhood, forced child marriages and infant mortality.
“Canada can be a leader on the African continent. If not with his scholarship, he can achieve it with conviction, consistency and long-term commitment with his partners,” added Mr. Moyer.
It will be necessary to adopt a less colonialist strategy, especially when the time comes to identify the needs of Africans. You will also have to agree to be content with a supporting role.
Mr. Achonu told Canadian senators that the federal government should fund infrastructure projects like building bridges and roads to spur growth and allow the country to leave its mark.
“Are there tangible things built by Canada that Africans can point to? And I don’t mean that lightly, because Canada saves lives. Canadian investments in essential sectors like health are not luxury. »
He recalled that China was becoming more and more present throughout the continent. Health programs funded by Canada are not as recognized by Africans who criticize the West for not prioritizing their needs.
According to Mr. Achonu, Canada’s speech on LBGTQ+ rights would be better received if African countries felt more respected and if they saw Canadian interest in investing in the sectors that work best. Lecturing them about social issues is a strategy that risks harming any commitment.
“Establishing partnerships can open the door to future discussions on rights,” he maintains.