African media and political watchers tend to regard the leader of Senegal as socially withdrawn. President Macky Sall is not in the exuberant group. But when he talks, his words usually resonate in Africa. President Sall says Africa is now in a better position than ever before to partake in global trade because it can now transact affairs on its own terms or as equal partners. These are words on the Marble.
Mr. Sall said that with the support of Africans in the Diaspora and eminent African-Americans, the times had gone when the continent would easily be overrun by some external force, which he described as “greedy foreigners”.
The Senegalese leader, who made the point at the 4th World Custom Organisation Global Economic Operators Conference in Dakar, last Friday, said “greedy foreigners” took advantage of Africa’s internal weaknesses to perpetuate slave trade.
In his words, “Due to the weaknesses and challenges Africa has had over the last 500 years, the continent missed out on human and industrial revolution. But now Africa is awake and we will never be left out again,” Mr. Sall said.
The President also observed that with the continent’s growing population and the deliberate decision to integrate her economies, Africa can only become stronger.
With the East African Community, EAC, already implementing the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) program, Mr. Sall assured that the volume of trade and the revenue accrued from Customs Services can only improve further.
The conference, which was held under the theme, “Promoting mutual recognition of AEOs to strengthen and secure global trade” was attended by African-American congressmen, captains of giant industries in Africa and officials of UN agencies operating in the continent.
