The 19th summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) concluded at its venue in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, under the chairmanship of Robert Mugabe, with the participation of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and other African leaders. Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Abou el-Naga, delivered a speech on behalf of President Hosni Mubarak, who did not attend the summit in person.
The summit attracted considerable global media attention, largely due to the presence of controversial African leaders, particularly Mugabe and Kibaki. However, it was al-Bashir’s attendance that made headlines, as he openly defied an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ignoring the warrant, he travelled to Zimbabwe, where Mugabe hosted him and invited all delegation heads to a private dinner in his honour.
Mubarak, in his speech, warned COMESA leaders about the current global economic conditions, stating: ‘We must not be deceived by the successes and achievements we have made so far. This summit is being held at a time when the global economy is in recession, with international reports indicating a decline in job opportunities and a downturn in various economic activities.’ However, he also praised the growth in trade within the bloc, which increased by 35% in 2007, reaching $9 billion. Moreover, total trade between COMESA and international partners grew by 14% in 2008, amounting to $203 billion.
Mugabe, as the summit’s chair, called for greater self-reliance to promote development across Africa, stressing the need for financial contributions to COMESA’s fund to reduce dependence on foreign aid. He also officially launched the COMESA customs union, declaring: ‘Our message to investors around the world is clear: we have a regional market ready for you.’ The customs union introduces a coordinated tariff system, exempting raw materials used in manufacturing while imposing duties of up to 25% on finished goods. This development follows the bloc’s earlier decision to lift visa restrictions among its member states, facilitating the free movement of people across a market of 400 million.
Regarding COMESA’s decision to establish its regional investment agency in Cairo, Mubarak announced that all legal and institutional arrangements had been finalised for its operation. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing the necessary facilities and expertise to manage the agency, which aims to attract foreign direct investment to the region. He also pledged continued support for such initiatives, which, in his view, would enhance national development efforts and improve living standards across the bloc.
In a phone interview, Hussein Sabbour, chairman of the Egyptian Businessmen’s Association, described intra-COMESA investment as weak, given that most member states are economically underdeveloped. However, he emphasised that Egypt stood to gain the most from the customs exemptions, as it is the bloc’s most industrialised nation. When asked about the significance of hosting the COMESA investment agency in Cairo, he stated: ‘Our priority is our own country. This agency will certainly boost foreign investment flows into Egypt and may also facilitate partnerships between Egypt and resource-rich nations like Sudan.’ Sabbour added that any trade agreements signed by the Egyptian government were beneficial, as they contributed to increased investment opportunities due to tariff exemptions.
On the political front, the summit was mired in controversy. The African News Agency went so far as to label it the ‘Dictators’ Summit’ because of the participation of leaders widely criticised by the West. Further reports emerged that local journalists in Zimbabwe had been barred from covering the event. The summit’s closing statement, issued by African leaders, read: ‘We express our concern over the ICC’s decision to indict President al-Bashir and support the position of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, which calls on the United Nations to suspend the indictment.’ Meanwhile, Mugabe urged the leaders he had hosted at his dinner to return to their countries and share what they had witnessed first-hand, dismissing negative portrayals in the media. ‘You have now seen the reality for yourselves,’ he said. ‘You will be able to distinguish between the truth and the fictional narratives fabricated by those who seek to undermine us.’
This article is originally published by AlBorsa in Arabic and later AI-translated by South Push.