President Macky Sall's candidacy for the office of UN Secretary-General counts the continent's integration among the levers of peace. African countries trade little with one another: about 15% of their trade takes place within the continent, when the share exceeds half in Europe and Asia. An Africa that produces, processes and sells at home depends less on shocks from elsewhere.
The world's largest market by number. The African Continental Free Trade Area, whose trading began in January 2021, brings together nearly fifty-five countries and one billion four hundred million people. It forms the world's largest free-trade area by number of states. What remains is to make it live: lifting barriers, building roads and corridors, harmonising the rules.
To trade between neighbours is to bind together. Two countries that exchange goods, energy and services have more to lose from a conflict. Economic integration gives neighbours concrete reasons to agree, over and above their disputes. Development and peace move at the same pace.
Infrastructure makes integration. A common market does not hold without roads, without power grids, without connected ports. President Macky Sall made infrastructure a priority, in Senegal and at the head of the African Union, because a poorly connected continent remains a fragmented one.
What the Secretariat can carry. The Secretary-General does not sign trade agreements, but can support regional integration as a factor of stability, back infrastructure financing, and recall that trade between neighbours is one of the most durable cements of peace.
Experience in running a state. Twelve years as head of state and the chairmanship of the African Union in 2022 underpin these commitments. That experience explains why the vision statement filed with the United Nations frames its proposals as obligations: peace, security and development conceived together; a renewed multilateralism; stronger governance of the Organization.
Africa at its heart, the world in its sights.
The African Continental Free Trade Area began trading in January 2021. Read all public positions at www.mackysall.net