No african common market without peace and stability

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi argued on Tuesday that the creation of an African Common Market must start in each African country, and is dependent on the consolidation of peace and stability, and the establishment of the infrastructures that allow the free circulation of people and goods.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi

He was speaking in Abidjan, as a member of a panel discussing the theme “A Common Market for Africa in our Generation”. The panel discussion took place shortly after the opening of the 50th annual meeting of the African Development Bank (ADB) group.

“Each country must do a lot so that it can deserve linkages with other countries, with the region and with the world”, stressed Nyusi. Questions of peace, stability and laws that facilitate the circulation of people and goods were absolutely key.

“Internal stability, peace, and the creation of infrastructures, or even the removal of barriers, are extremely important”, he said. Without these pre-conditions there would be no way to create an African common market.

Nyusi explained that, in Mozambique’s case, legal reforms are under way, particularly to improve the business environment. “We have also been removing some barriers with regard to entry visas, to facilitate circulation of people”, he added.

He stressed the importance of Mozambique’s transport corridors, based on the ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala, which ensure routes to the Indian Ocean for landlocked countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland.

There was no disagreement on the panel about the need for peace and stability. This was also the tonic of speeches by the presidents of Liberia and Gabon, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and by the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Augustin Ponyo.

Post published in: Africa News

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