Casa África convenes its Diplomatic Council in Madrid under the chairmanship of minister Josep Borrell

This morning, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Co-operation of the Government of Spain, Josep Borrell Fontelles, chaired the 11th meeting of the Diplomatic Council of Casa África in the Palacio de Viana in Madrid.

The meeting, which is usually organised close to Africa Day (25 May), was also attended by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Fernando Martín Valenzuela Marzo; the Secretary of State for International Co-operation and for Ibero-America and the Caribbean, Juan Pablo de Laiglesia y González de Peredo; the Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pedro Ortega Rodríguez; the Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors accredited to Spain and Ambassador of Guinea Bissau in Spain, Paulo da Silva; and the Director General of Casa África, José Segura Clavell. The African diplomatic corps accredited in Spain was represented by the ambassadors of Angola, Algeria, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, the Republic of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia and representatives of the embassies of Cameroon, Libya and Kenya.

The meeting’s agenda included a presentation of Casa África’s Strategic Plan (which is in force until 2021) to the African diplomats as well as a description of the main activities planned by the Consortium for the remainder of this year. The 3rd Africa Plan was also presented.

“We explained the recent activities carried out by Casa África and the lines of work that we want to follow”, said director general José Segura at the end of the Diplomatic Council, on behalf of Casa África. “Lines of work framed within the 3rd Africa Plan approved by the Council of Ministers, but with the personality of Casa África, which has a roadmap defined in its Strategic Plan. Casa Africa’s roadmap is also aligned with Agenda 2030 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in the areas of climate change, biodiversity and the empowerment of women. Excellent work has been done in these areas, as well as in cultural policy and in spreading awareness of current African experiences and issues, for example, among young people in the Canary Islands.

“We have had the opportunity to listen first-hand to the 3rd Africa Plan that has been set in motion by the Government of Spain”, said Pedro Ortega to the media. An Africa Plan that will help to advance relations between Spain, and in particular the Canary Islands, and Africa. We have also had the opportunity to talk about the importance of Casa África being in the Canary Islands, as a benchmark for relations between Spain and Africa, and for the Canary Islands to be the benchmark as a platform for relations with our neighbouring continent. In addition, we have had the opportunity to explain to all the African ambassadors present the actions the Government of the Canary Islands has taken to boost relations between the Canary Islands, and Spain, and Africa. We’ve found a lot of proactivity and we’ll continue to move forward to ensure the lines of action we’re working on continue into the future.”