Latest news with #2025AfricaCEOForum
The South African
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
South Africans seeking resettlement in US are NOT refugees
President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected the classification of a group of white South Africans as refugees, following their resettlement to the United States under a programme backed by President Donald Trump. Speaking at a presidential panel during the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Ramaphosa responded to a question from CNN journalist Larry Madowo regarding the 49 individuals who recently departed South Africa for the US, where they are expected to be received as political refugees. Ramaphosa said the individuals in question do not meet the internationally accepted criteria for refugee status. 'A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political, religious or economic persecution – and they don't fit that bill,' said Ramaphosa. 'They are leaving ostensibly because they don't want to embrace the changes that are taking place in our country, in accordance with our Constitution.' Ramaphosa disclosed that he had a direct phone call with Donald Trump to raise concerns about the narrative being presented by some South Africans opposed to democratic transformation. 'I told [President Trump] what he had been told by those people opposed to transformation in South Africa is not true. 'We were well taught by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo to build a united nation out of diverse groupings,' Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa highlighted that South Africa is unique on the African continent in that it integrated colonial settlers into its democratic society instead of expelling them after apartheid ended. 'We are the only country on the continent where the colonisers came to stay, and we have never driven them out of our country,' he stated. He emphasised South Africa's commitment to transformation and inclusivity, reinforcing that the country's efforts are rooted in constitutional democracy and national unity. While the President acknowledged the apparent misunderstanding on the part of the US government, he expressed hope for ongoing dialogue. 'We think the American government has got the wrong end of the stick here, but we'll continue talking to them,' Ramaphosa said. When asked whether South Afric-born entrepreneur Elon Musk would participate in the anticipated face-to-face discussions with the Trump administration, Ramaphosa said that decision would rest with the Americans. 'I don't know. They will determine whether Elon Musk is part of it or not. I will go with my own South African delegation,' he responded. President Ramaphosa is attending the Africa CEO Forum alongside key cabinet members, including Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The forum serves as a premier platform for engagement between business leaders, investors, heads of state, and policymakers across the continent. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily News Egypt
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Africa CEO Forum opens in Abidjan focusing on public-private ‘new deal'
ABIDJAN – The 2025 Africa CEO Forum (ACF) opened in Abidjan on Monday, focusing on forging a new 'public-private deal' to reshape the continent's prospects, bringing together over 2,000 leaders from more than 90 countries. Hosted by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, the 12th edition, co-organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), aims to find solutions as Africa navigates external shocks like declining aid and high debt costs, alongside opportunities for South-South cooperation. Ouattara's presence is closely watched less than six months before Côte d'Ivoire's presidential election. In his opening address, President Ouattara declared: 'The world is undergoing profound upheavals and major shifts in the geopolitical, economic, and financial spheres. Despite this uncertain context, Côte d'Ivoire is showing strong, sustained growth thanks to a sound macro‑economic framework underpinned by significant private‑sector investment. We must now work to strengthen intra‑African trade by continuing our efforts to process our raw materials and by accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA. I hope that this edition of the Africa CEO Forum will be a moment of truth and commitment, enabling us to design concrete and ambitious solutions together.' The two-day forum, held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, gathers public and private decision-makers with the objective of building a new pact to fast-track the continent's economic transformation. It highlights economic governance as essential for attracting investment and building trust. Discussions are structured around three key priorities: strengthening economic governance to improve public policy efficiency and enable a more strategic government approach; optimising public policy by aligning regulations with the needs of African businesses; and accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to build a continental market and foster African champions. High-level participation includes Heads of State Alassane Ouattara (Côte d'Ivoire), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania), and Paul Kagame (Rwanda). Also attending are Prime Ministers Robert Beugré Mambé (Côte d'Ivoire), Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa (Tanzania), Amadou Oury Bah (Guinea), and Joseph Dion Ngute (Cameroon). More than 900 CEOs are among the participants. Leading figures from the private and financial sectors include Christel Heydemann (Orange), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (Access Holdings), Samaila Zubairu (AFC), Soren Toft (MSC), Françoise Lombard (Proparco), Aïda Diarra (Visa), Serge Ekué (BOAD), Thierry Hebraud (MCB), Philippe Labonne (AGL), Christian Stammkoetter (Danone), Fatoumata Sanogo (Petroci), and Afrobeats superstar Davido. Amir Ben Yahmed, CEO of Jeune Afrique Media Group, said: 'After two decades of growth, Africa is once again facing challenges we thought were behind us, especially the ballooning debt crisis… we believe the core issue lies in the quality of public policy and economic governance… Africa must develop its capacity to engage with the private sector and empower it to drive growth.' Makhtar Diop, Managing Director at IFC, stated: 'Africa's potential is immense… Yet it remains largely untapped… To realize this potential, we must mobilize private capital towards a competitive and productive Africa… we urgently need a new deal between companies and public decision-makers'. A key event will be the public debate between candidates for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), moderated by Nicholas Norbrook, editor-in-chief of The Africa Report. Some leaders, including South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Mauritania's Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, and Senegal's Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are attending partly to support candidates in this election, scheduled for late May. Rwanda's Paul Kagame is seen as cultivating support amid ongoing tensions between his country and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
