Abidjan speech, a covenant for 21st century Africa

All the attributes of a founding speech are here. It is visionary and insightful, dense and realistic, and efficient with an outstanding strategic clout. Addressing African leaders, saying that the time of "politics" is over and that only diplomatic actions underpinned by genuine economic approach have a chance to succeed, is a vision that is both pragmatic and bold.

The speech of Abidjan of HM the King, which shall obviously remain a historic one - given by a leader imbued with African culture, close to the people in their everyday lives, and listening to the legitimate aspirations of the younger generation, could only be part of the reality of everyday life of Africans.

Efficiency, performance and credibility are the principles that will be the future measuring tools of political cooperation. We no longer need obsolete slogans, the celebration of an overrated or abused neighboring, or a barren fraternity. Africa deserves better than that now. The value created by the continent must remain a priority in Africa and benefit Africans first.

This approach which was seen as a call for close-mindedness and economic failure in the past, is, today, a solemn appeal to an acceleration of South-South cooperation, or even triangular cooperation depending on the experiences of the most developed African countries. Only this approach is able today to lift Africa out of the logic of divisions, the inherited neo-colonial preeminence, and the questionable historical acquaintances.

No land is acquired. And no hunting is kept . Only smart and bold cooperation prevails, one where everyone wins. There is no large or small country, no big nor small project. There are only projects that are at the service of citizens.