Global leaders and representatives from across Africa and the African Diaspora, are expected to converge in South Africa’s (SA) Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, later this year.

The conference focused on Africa’s future and its relationship with the global African community.

The second Africa and African Diaspora Conference scheduled to take place in October, will bring together political leaders, academics, business representatives, faith groups and civil society to discuss issues including reparatory justice, racism, climate justice and economic co-operation.

Reverand Frank Chikane, the conference’s SA Spokesperson, briefed the media on the October gathering, which is expected to include former SA President Thabo Mbeki as well as delegates from across the African continent and the Diaspora.

“The conference is to develop further strategies to bring Africans and people of African descent together to find ways to reverse, as I’ve said, what imperialism, slavery and colonialism has done. And we have already indicated that we have invited indigenous people because they are also victims in the same way.”

He says the conference will strengthen economic co-operation to increase trade, investment and business opportunities across the continent.

“We need to make sure that Africa doesn’t get impoverished further. I will say something I was going to say at the very end. We are waiting on the working group on the economy and trade. It’s working on what are we, the plan of what we will look like in 2050. And whilst we are poor here fighting each other, they are planning how they’re going to make money out of Africa.”

Chikane says the conference will move beyond discussions and create stronger partnerships in areas such as infrastructure, technology, manufacturing and critical minerals.

–ChannelAfrica–