It is about time for the Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe to receive floods of messages from other leaders around the world, in congratulations of his new appointment as chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Faure Gnassingbe was declared the new chairperson of the ECOWAS in Liberia’s capital -Monrovia, at the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State that was held in Liberia on Sunday, the 4th of June. Faure is coming in to relief the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who has been in same capacity well about twelve months and all through the electoral crisis in the Gambia.
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister of Isreal, Benjamin Netanyahu, while addressing the summit, appreciated the privilege accorded to him to be part of the summit. Benjamin noted that the goal before the congress is not only to fight the bad, but to work in unison for collective progress of the world.
“I am deeply honored to be here today, and I want to thank you for your great hospitality in inviting me. This has been a dream to come here to this organization in West Africa. And there is so much, so much that we can do for the betterment of our peoples.
“But our goal here is not merely to join forces to fight the bad, but to work together to advance the good, and in this spirit, I come here as an expression of a simple truth: Israel is coming back to Africa, and Africa is coming back to Israel.”
In addition, the Prime minister declared his firm belief in Africa, identifying Africans as diverse and talented. Adding that the State of Israel has made strengthening relations with Africa as priority.
“I believe in Africa,” he declared. “I believe in Africa, I believe in its potential – present and future. It is a continent on the rise. Its people are diverse and talented. I have made strengthening our relations one of our top priorities – national and international priorities of the State of Israel. It’s the reason I became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Africa in decades. Well, one thing I can assure you – it won’t be decades until an Israeli leader visits Africa again. It won’t be five years. It’ll be a few months.”
Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Africa must remember that they (Israel) and Africa share a similar story of colonisation and the fight for breakthrough. He reminded them of how Israel like Africa had to fight to establish fair democracy to regulate their state.
“Africa and Israel share a natural affinity. We have, in many ways, similar histories. Your nations toiled under foreign rule. You experienced horrific wars and slaughters. And you’re still fighting to get out of the past into the future, valiantly, in efforts that I deeply admire. With determination and conviction, you won your independence. You healed the wounds of the past to chart a future of hope for your people.
“This is very much our history. Our people too were denied independence for far too long. Our people too suffered the indignity of bondage, slavery and dispossession. Our people too experienced unimaginable horrors of mass death and genocide.
“But we never ever gave in. We fought for our independence and won. We established a thriving democracy in the heart of the Middle East. We developed one of the world’s most dynamic economies. We became a world leader in agriculture, water, cyber technology, technology of communications, security and much more.”
The Prime minister concluded his speech, congratulating President Faure Gnassingbe on his new appointment, also seizing the opportunity to invite West African leaders to the Africa – Israel summit that is slated for October in Togo. He urged all to attend as Israel is set to build on her cooperation with Africa by opening trade missions together.
“I hope that we will advance two important agreements that will deepen our cooperation even further. Israel is opening two new trade missions – one in West Africa, one in East Africa – to significantly increase trade between our countries. We will hold later this year an African-Israel summit in Togo. I want to thank you, Mr. President, which I hope all of you will attend. We are prepared to send technology survey teams to every one of your countries, and to look and see, together, what is the best way that we can cooperate. Those of you have already experienced our teams and our capabilities can attest to the wisdom of such a move. I invite all of you, without exception, to do this.
“So I want to thank you for the great honor of addressing you here today. I wish the best of luck to the incoming Chairperson of ECOWAS, the President of Togo, President Gnassingbe.”
