«Although Mauritius has drawn its cultural inspiration from Africa, Asia and Europe, yet it has succeeded to a remarkable degree in evolving a distinct Mauritian way of life» – Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Mauritius certainly has its own style, its own vision and its own path. And hopefully my team and I are a part of it. We even decided to make a booklet with a very simple name –the Book of Friendship – about everything we have seen and done here.
We tried to contribute to the Mauritian diversity, which consists of a small jigsaw puzzle – where the blue ocean is neighboring to the high-tech glass buildings, where the memory of incredible historic discoveries is part of the incredible people life stories. And where the island in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a part of big global politics and big global game. This Book of Friendship describes our love story with a part of big African family, the family that will reunite in Moscow at the end of October for the Russia-Africa Summit.
Each and every one of them is unique
And SSR’s quote is what the whole world is to understand about all African nations. Each and every one of them is unique. Every one of them has fought for its happiness, dignity and recognition. And each and every one of them has the experience of engaging with their friends and foes – and those who once believed themselves to be masters. We understand that during the
decades of independence this experience has been revised and become a part of national identity and national spirit. And now all Africa – and Mauritius as well – must reshape its place in global structure.
As every African nation, Mauritius makes its steps to the future, to progress and prosperity, hopes for its own African miracle and creates its own vision of the future. Mauritius fully understands that miracle is impossible without breakthrough projects, investments, security and friendship between neighbours. That miracle doesn’t emerge overnight and even over a decade, but it is possible if there is a dream about happiness and a will to win.
That is why it is essential to find common ground on the African continent altogether, to meet, talk and understand – how to create a new architecture of a global positioning. And Africans already have this experience – starting from Accra, 1958. They met there for the first time, face to face, real people with real African-only ups and downs. And there they understood for the first time that despite all their differences, their dreams and their dreads were alike. They found out that for some of them this trip to Accra was easy – but for others it was almost a secret mission because of the colonizers who controlled the routes.
On the one hand, Congolese risked their lives to participate because they coveted freedom. On the other – Sudanese had already won in their fight for independence and came from a sovereign state. And Ethiopians, who had never been colonised, represented fully independent country. That is why the meeting in 1958 started an exchange of ideas, experience of fights for freedom and dreams for future miracles.
That is why it’s essential now for all of them to be in Moscow for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, to talk about economy, investments, risks, culture, climate change and sustainable
development. All of them know that Russia has always been supporting Africa by all means and continues to do so by building dams, plants, hospitals, and power stations, by bringing up doctors, teachers, and agronomists, as well as by providing medicine, vaccine, free education, food and technology. All of that stimulates economic growth and forms the basis of sovereignty and national security.
Russia has never looked down on Africans
Africa knows that Russia has never looked down on Africans, we are friends and we have always been friends. We have always been just people who live on the same,planet, people who can and will develop the happiness of our future generations. Russia offers progress, modernisation, experience, scientific knowledge and investment that will contribute to mutually beneficial projects. We fully understand that these projects won’t be possible without security guaranties for the continent where peace is very fragile and, thus, coveted for the last 50 years.
And Africa fully understands that most of its wars were unleashed by those who wanted to appropriate its rich natural and human resources, trade routes and geographic advantages.
Africans quote this in a very simple way: so far, the poorest people live on the richest continent. It is true – but must be gone with the wind of changes. African nations clearly see that securing national resources, national industry and national environment protection system is essential for ensuring their freedom and independence.
‘The Book of Friendship’
Neocolonialism still has different masks but it is the same nature in its core. Africa can’t afford to be victimized once again by a new masters and to depend on anybody else. Even if it will be hidden under very colorful promises and impressive words. That is why today Russia is a reliable partner that has always been supporting new-born African sovereign nations and is now ready to work together for the mutual benefit.
And Russia also has dreadful experience of fighting against those who want to rip off and squeeze our brains and resources. We are grateful to African nations for their support now and ready to support each and every of them.
Hence, the Third Russia-Africa Summit is a meeting of friends, an experience exchange, a discussion of vision of the future that we are to create. Mauritius has its own purpose for attending this Summit. It has a lot to tell about the dream and reality – in its sustainable development projects, its experience of multinationalism and coexistence, and its preserving of traditional values. And at the same time Mauritius is no
stranger to the problems common for all African countries – resilience as a fight for sovereignty and decolonization, fight against climate change, brain drain, energy and technology dependence.
And once this big African family comes to Moscow for a chance not just to see its old friends but a chance to discuss something global – a trust, a willingness, and at the end – huge mutual investments for the mutual prosperity.
On October, 28-29, the big African family will talk about its achievements and needs, problems and solutions on the neutral and friendly territory – in Moscow. And at the same time everyone will have an opportunity to see cutting-edge technologies, make new friends, find new projects and new investors, and immerse inspiration from novel ideas. It is time for everyone to understand that united Africa is the big player at an enormous, super-connected and constantly changing world. The world where can’t be too many friends and too much experience.
Thus, ‘The Book of Friendship’ made for this big event is about Russia’s feeling of Mauritius and its vision of our joint cooperation. It is about everything that connects us through the ocean and everything that can be done to make our common dreams come true. This vision of our joint future will be on the agenda of the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 28-29. And we hope that the results of this meeting between the united African family and its long-term friend Russia will become a new chapter of our Book of Friendship – and not just for Russia and Mauritius.
