African Diplomacy Observer

Amadou Toumani Touré, the President of the Republic of Mali  arrived in Algeria on Friday 23 November 2007 for a two-day visit of state at the invitation of his counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. During this visit, President Toure is due to sign minutes of the 10th session of the Algerian-Malian Border Bilateral Commission held in Algiers on 19 and 20 November. He is also expected to examine with President Bouteflika means to strengthen the cooperation and concertation so that they become strategic axis of their bilateral relations.

This visit will be the occasion for addressing issues of mutual interest, notably for population living in border areas, in which cooperation should be strengthened. These issues include the circulation of persons and goods, cooperation between border security services, realization of the trans-Saharan road, development of the barter border trade, and the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration.

According to the Algerian Delegate Minister in charge of Local Collectivities, Dahou Ould Kablia, the results of the 10th session of the Algerian-Malian Border Bilateral Commission will certainly trigger a new momentum for this cooperation and set up an institutional framework that will deepen cooperation ties between the two countries, notably at their border areas.

Source: Le Jeune Indépendant

The president of the South African National Assembly, Mrs. Baleka Mbete, started on 23 November a-three-day-official visit in Algeria to "strengthen and reaffirm friendship ties" between the two countries. According to a communiqué of the Algerian National Popular assembly, the aim of this visit is to "contribute to the reinforcement of relations between the two parliamentarian chambers and to emphasize the important role of parliamentarians in the framework of African multilateral institutions".

Mrs. Baleka Mbete will be accompanied by an important delegation of South African parliamentarian and will have talks with the president of the Algerian Assembly, Mr. Abdelaziz Ziari, and with high political personalities as well. during this visit, a bilateral cooperation framework protocol is to be signed between the two parliaments.

The creation of an Algerian-South African inter-parliamentarian friendship group was mentioned in the communiqué as an instrument of parliamentarian diplomacy to strengthen and boost their bilateral relations and cooperation in all aspects.

The visit of the SA parliamentarian delegation will give the opportunity to examine the two countries contribution and commitments to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). Moreover, the two delegations will address and exchange views on possible solutions to resolve the conflict over the Western Sahara opposing Morocco and the Polisario Front. In that regard, a group from the SA delegation is expected to visit Sahraouian refugee camps as a sign of solidarity with the Sahraouian people in its struggle for self-determination. Should we remind that SA has been one of the first countries that recognized the Sahraouian Arab Democratic Republic as a sovereign State.

Source: El Moudjahid

From 2-3 October 2007, was  held in Kigali, Rwanda, the fourth session of the Algeria-Rwanda joint Commission. The objective of this session, attended on the Algerian side by the Delegate Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, and from the Rwandan one, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Charles Morigande, was to review, and particularly to deepen and boost their bilateral cooperation by identifying adequate ways and means. This Commission was also the lieu for furthering dialogue and consultation on issues of common interest.

According to the Delegate Minister for Maghreb and African, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, new axis of cooperation shall encompass "fight against terrorism, the decolonization of Africa and other activities aim at rooting the dynamic of development in African perspective". Promoting initiatives aiming at strengthening regional integration was also evoked as a matter for mutual consideration.

During this meeting, views was exchanged on national reconciliation process the two countries undergone and it was acknowledged the importance of these policies "as factors of stability, answer to development, progress and prosperity in the two countries". On issues of common interest, the two parties underlined their "total convergence of views" on the situation in Africa or in other part of the world. At the end of the session, a certain number of concrete actions were identified such as the mobilization of human resources, energy health and trade.

Source: Algeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs