Africans urged to unite to tackle crises

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Director of international organization Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), Bineta Diop, has urged Africans to come together to deal with the various crises that are having a negative impact on the continent.

Speaking at the end of the third international conference of FAS here Wednesday, Ms. Diop said: "We have natural resources, land, water, solar energy, but we need to organize ourselves."

According to her, Africa has borne the full impact of three simultaneous crisis - financial, energy and food - because it is one of the continents most exposed by the fragility of its economy.

She called on Africans to respond quickly and thoroughly by redirecting efforts in favor of a good policy in terms of infrastructure, justice, equality and solidarity which, according to her, are the foundation of the new platform for the emergence of Africa.

Ms. Diop said 2012 would be a test year for Africa, especially as it seeks to reinvent itself to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The third FAS conference followed those held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in April 2000 and Bamako, Mali, in June 2006.

The two-day conference provided the opportunity for over 100 participants from around the world to exchange views on the theme: "Financial, food and energy crises in Africa: Women in the front line."
-0- PANA NECK/JSG/JEN/SEG 15Dec2011