Special Report from Algeirs , ALGERIA
At the Opening Ceremony of International Africa Trade Fair IATF-2025 , African leaders highlighted how integration, trade and shared prosperity can reshape the continent’s future. These leaders captured a single vision: a more integrated Africa, empowered by trade, industry and cooperation.
Former President of Nigeria and Chair of the Advisory Council of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Olusegun Obasanjo, praised on Thursday in Algiers Algeria’s efforts to make the 2025 IATF, scheduled to take place from 4 to 10 September, the most successful.
H.E Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania spoke of national strategies that connect natural resource development with continental trade: Mauritania is willing to transform our resources and capacities into beneficial ones for participating prosperity, for common prosperity, for the benefit of our continent.
H.E Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad reminded us of the urgency of integration: Let’s make the African Free Trade Zone Africa that will be able to give prosperity for youth and prosperity and dignity.
H.E Kais Saied President of Tunisia spoke of today’s ambitions in context with Africa’s history: There is a dream that once the generation before us had, and today we still have it. I am convinced that this dream one day will be real, because this is the path of humanity.
H.E Daniel Francisco Chapo , President of the Republic of Mozambique, underlined the importance of connectivity: Borders are artificial. We need to forget political initiative divisions and see economic development as being an integrated development between African countries.
H.E Abdul Hamid Muhammad Abdul Rahman al-Dbeibeh, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of the state of Libya, positioned Libya within continental progress: Libya’s unique strategic location qualifies to be the true Northern Gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Hon. Dr. Terrance Michael Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, reminded of the Afri–Caribbean ties: Instead of the slave trade that brought our people to the Caribbean, today we can establish a Transatlantic Bridge of Hope that reconnects Africa and the Caribbean through trade.
Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, focused on economic freedom: Political liberty without economic liberty is futile.
H.E Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, shared a milestone: On 30 June 2025, Namibia launched our first shipment within the framework of the AfCFTA, exporting 45,000 tonnes of salt to Nigeria.
H.E Nestor Ntahontuye, Prime Minister of the Republic of Burundi, stressed collaboration: Our ambition is clear, to polarise our products, stimulate our expectations and to give new opportunities together with our sisters and brothers in Africa.
H. E Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President of Niger, drew on the vision of Agenda 2063: Africa should be unified, peaceful and prosperous, managed by its own children, and a force in the concert of nations. He commended the pioneering role of the President Tebboune in Africa’s development and economic emancipation.
