From Switzerland, with the participation of the Somali Minister of Health and the Mayor of Lausanne: Maat discusses sustainable development in Somalia
“Okeil:”: Somalia has many pillars for real development, most notably Somalian disabora
Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, in cooperation with the Swiss African Alliance; held a conference on "Peace and Justice in Africa: What Role Do We Play", which focused on the case of Somalia. The activities of the conference were held in Lausanne, Switzerland with the participation of the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Mayor of Lausanne Canton in Switzerland, and a professor at Geneva University and Harvard, along with many African diaspora.
During the conference, international expert Ayman Okeil; chairman of the Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, addressed an evaluation of Somalia vision for the field of sustainable development, and tackled the opportunities that Somalia enjoys; beginning with the agricultural sector, the livestock sector, and the advancement of marine production, through the untapped reserves of many mineral resources, the blue economy that is linked to investment in marine resources, and the Somali diaspora annually who send $1.3 billion.
Okeil recommended that priority should be given to eradicating poverty, achieving food security and health care, and striving towards achieving sustainable economic growth and sustainable management of the environment file, by enhancing stakeholder participation.
Grégoire Junod, Mayor of the Swiss city of Lausanne, stressed the importance of cooperation between Lausanne and Africa. He highlighted the need to draw on the African diaspora to promote development in Africa. Junod highlighted that the diaspora has skills, knowledge and networks that can be used to support the emergence and economic growth of the African continent.
The Lausanne mayor called for strengthening ties between Lausanne and Africa by promoting cultural, economic and educational exchanges. Junod stressed Lausanne's desire to play an active role in supporting sustainable development in Africa, stressing that cooperation and partnership are two main drivers for this approach.
Dr. Ali Haji Aden, Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Somalia, addressed the importance of peace and justice in ensuring a health system accessible to all. He pointed out that conflict and instability greatly impede efforts to provide adequate health care to the population. Aden expressed his happiness to participate in the conference organized by the Swiss African Alliance and Maat for Peace.
He also stressed the need to strengthen peace and justice mechanisms in Africa, in order to ensure fair and quality health care for all citizens. The Minister of Health also expressed his commitment to working closely with international partners to address these challenges and improve public health in Somalia and across Africa.
As Dr. Angel Mindy; Professor at the University of Geneva, stated that the latest studies predict that Africa will be the economic engine of global growth. She stressed on the importance of investing in development in Africa, and highlighted the critical role of the African diaspora in supporting this emergence. Mindy stressed that the return of African minds to the continent is essential to bring their skills and contribute to the economic and social development of African countries.
She also stressed the importance of ensuring respect for human rights in this process. Mindy called for increased cooperation between the African diaspora and African countries, as well as policies conducive to investment and innovation to stimulate economic growth in Africa while ensuring the protection of the basic rights of individuals.
Notably, this conference comes within the joint cooperation between Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, and Swiss African Alliance, which focuses on the field of sustainable development in Africa.
shortlink: https://maatpeace.org/en/?p=38552