H.E. Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui:

Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I thank the members of the committee. I wish all a happy Africa Day. In my opening statement, I will shed light on Morocco-Ireland relations and will then present Morocco's action in Africa, including the pioneer South-South co-operation implemented by Morocco within Africa.

I will also give insights on Ireland-Africa relations and the need to unlock the significant potential that lies in such relations.

Next year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our relations. In 1992, the Moroccan Embassy in Dublin was opened. In 2020, Morocco nominated its honorary consul in Ireland - an Irish citizen - who is making a highly valuable contribution to our relations. In 2021, Ambassador James McIntyre became the first Irish resident ambassador to Morocco to further deepen our relations. I thank him for closely working together with us to boost our relations. Before then and still now, we have in Morocco two honorary consuls of Ireland who are represented by two Moroccans in Casablanca and Agadir.

Regarding the Moroccan community in Ireland, it is relatively small with around 5,000 Moroccans working in different companies, Irish and multinational. They are building bridges between our two countries. The Moroccan student community, including researchers, has been reinforced by seven memorandums of understanding, MOUs, signed since 2017 between Moroccan and Irish universities. This people connection in academia and universities should be boosted even more through south-north mobility facilitation.

As for parliamentary diplomacy between Morocco and Ireland, exchange of visits in recent years has contributed to a better mutual understanding. This year, the Chair of this committee visited his counterpart in Morocco. In May 2018, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad visited Morocco and in January 2019, the Ceann Comhairle visited Morocco while in June 2019, the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives visited Ireland. The outcome of this last visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parliaments as well as the establishment of a Morocco-Ireland parliamentary friendship group. The convener of this group is Senator Paul Daly, who I thank for his valuable contribution towards our parliamentary diplomacy.

We are trying to strengthen trade and investment ties between our countries. Data from 2023 showed an increase of 21% in Irish exports to Morocco and the same on the other side. We should seek more co-operation opportunities in many expertise sectors such as renewable energies where Morocco is doing well, agriculture, agribusiness, dairy-livestock, outsourcing, pharmaceuticals and education to name a few. The ease of mobility of the Moroccan business community is key in this aspect. Morocco's immense potential for renewable energy calls for stronger collaboration. Pathways towards climate energy transition constitute a common global goal.

Morocco has a lot of potential to offer. It is a gateway to Africa. Morocco is stable and doing well in business. We have very good infrastructure. We are the nearest African country to Europe, at only 14 km from Spain. Morocco has diverse partners. There are free trade agreements between the EU and the Mediterranean Arab countries - the Agadir agreement - and also bilateral free trade agreements with the US, Türkiye, UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia. Morocco is the only country in Africa which has such an agreement with the US.

With Ireland, on multilateral level, we should better co-ordinate our positions and exchange lessons and good practices on issues of common interest at the United Nations and European Union, noting the 1996 EU-Morocco association agreement and the advanced status granted to Morocco by the EU in 2008. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe granted the Moroccan Parliament partner for democracy status in 2011, making it the first parliament in the southern neighbourhood to be granted this status.

I will move on to the key role played by Morocco in Africa. The top priority of Moroccan foreign policy is Africa. Morocco's bilateral relations are ancestral, deep and strong with many African countries and are growing even more in multifaceted areas of mutual interest. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the south-south co-operation implemented by Morocco with other African countries has allowed us to implement since 1999 more than 1,000 agreements and tangible projects across Africa towards strengthening human and economic sustainable development in order to meet the needs of Africans in terms of food security, access to energy, banking, insurance, transportation, infrastructure, telecommunication, cultural ties, etc. Among giant projects are the creation of fertiliser production units in Ethiopia and Nigeria and launching the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline by the end of 2024. This is the continent's longest gas pipeline, which testifies to how regional integration could transform the landscape of Atlantic Africa. The 2023 Morocco’s initiative on the Atlantic makes it a geological space for economic integration, connectivity and human interaction, thus ending the economic isolation of Sahel countries. Morocco is connected to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea in the north and to the Americas via its Atlantic coast in the west.

Morocco is also playing a key role in Africa in terms of migration. Morocco used to be a transit country for illegal migrants seeking to travel to Europe but is now becoming a host country for immigrants. We launched a plan to integrate these migrants, giving them registration cards to allow them to become legal residents in Morocco and allowing them access to schools, universities, jobs and so on. The King of Morocco was appointed Africa leader for migration. This decision was partly based on the positive development of the 2014 national immigration and asylum seeker policy. In 2018, the King, as Africa leader for migration, submitted to the African Union, the African agenda on migration. One of the proposals of this agenda was the establishment of the African Migration Observatory, which was then inaugurated in 2020 in Rabat, Morocco. Its mission is to facilitate the implementation of the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration adopted in Marrakech, Morocco.

Triangular partnerships are key for Morocco. Ireland is invited to look at possibilities offered by tripartite partnerships between Ireland, Morocco and other African countries and to explore areas such as food security, agriculture adaptation, access to energy, renewable energy, economic growth, the sustainable development goals of the African Union agenda 2030.

In 2016, Morocco hosted COP22, which was a unique opportunity to prioritise the triple A initiative regarding adaptation of African agriculture to climate change while tackling African food security and addressing hunger in Africa. In 2016, Morocco hosted the first African action summit pooling efforts to design policies for the Sahel, the Congo basin and small islands in Africa, leading to the creation of a working climate committee for each of the three respective areas.

I will now share with the committee some insights about Ireland-Africa relations. I command Ireland's strategy for Africa to 2025 aimed at expanding Ireland’s diplomatic footprint on the continent of Africa, with the aim of deepening political, economic and cultural relations with African countries while contributing to sustainable development and expanding education and research links.

We need to see projects covering the wider Africa continent, not only the English-speaking African countries, in business and to enhance mutual investment and human connections. Exchange of lessons learned and expertise is key in this regard.

We all live in a complex rapidly changing world, connected yet disconnected on many levels. We face almost the same challenges arising from global momentum. We, as Africans, are aware of our resources, potential and role in driving positive changes. We believe in our continent, Africa, which the world labels with words such as "fragility", "poverty", "shortage of resources", "conflicts" and "debt crisis" - to name but a few. I kindly invite members to rethink Africa from the perspective of diversity and opportunities. We have a shared responsibility to engage in collective action built on trust, mutual understanding and a win-win spirit. Our common goal is to be able to deliver on the ground for our societies and youth, who are the leaders of tomorrow, in Africa and Europe. Africa’s immense potential on so many levels is yet to be fully unlocked through long-term co-operation where Africa is seen as a full partner rather than an aid recipient only.

I am conscious also of bilateral issues we could discuss but perhaps they do not concern the whole of Africa. I would be very happy to come back to the committee to discuss those issues.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Belaoura:

I thank the Chairman, honourable Deputies and Senators, members of the committee, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Chairman and the other members for giving us this opportunity to address this prestigious committee on the occasion of Africa Day. I commend their work and outreach efforts to the general public and the diplomatic community. The celebration of Africa Day marks the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, on 25 May 1963, the predecessor of the African Union, AU, established in September 1999. It represents a moment of reflection and meditation on the path travelled and the challenges that remain ahead for African peoples and counties. The total liberation of the African continent from occupation and foreign interference is still to be achieved, as well as the pursuit of the economic development and integration and the social well-being of all African peoples.

As a founding member of the OAU and the AU, Algeria contributes constantly and with determination to this tremendous effort and endeavour. Algeria is an active member of the African Union and has been the origin of many political and economic initiatives aimed at the liberation and development of Africa. Algeria is also heavily investing in infrastructure, including roads and railways, to help us ease connections for bordering African countries such as Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. This will be added to Abuja, capital of Nigeria, with projects of roads, pipelines and optic fibres that will open up major opportunities for Sahel countries and beyond.

Ireland's commitment to the development of Africa is commendable, in its political and diplomatic engagement with the continent, in its efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment and, of course, through its significant aid contributions to African countries. Nine of the top ten recipients of Irish development aid are African countries.

It should be noted, however, that despite over 60 years of independence, Africa faces multifaceted challenges, including infrastructure delays, governance issues and conflicts, highlighting the continent's immense need for better pathways and greater efforts for development. Experience has shown that prior development aid efforts, whether bilateral or through international organisations, have fallen short, necessitating a re-evaluation towards more efficient and effective co-operation for development.

Members may be aware that the Algerian Embassy in Dublin opened four years ago, in September 2020, reflecting the commitment of the Algerian authorities to strengthening bilateral relations with Ireland in all fields. The opening of this new embassy, in addition to the traditional diplomatic missions, is to provide more consular support services to the Algerian community in Ireland. We have also set a number of other objectives, some of a long-term and some of a short-term nature. I will come back to this subject later if it is of interest to the committee.

As we gather today, the Palestinian people in Gaza have faced a systematic enterprise of genocide for almost eight months in full view of the entire world. While we remember the more than 35,000 martyrs and over 80,000 injured and missing persons, all of whom are victims of the Israeli war machine, we are confident that the sacrifices of the Palestinian population in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere and the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people will prevail so these people will finally get liberty and an independent state.

Ireland and Algeria are dedicated to promoting international peace and stability as demonstrated through their commitment to upholding international law and the UN Charter. It is, therefore, essential to recognise the historical context that shapes the relations between our two nations. Both countries have waged vigorous struggles against colonial rule and have emerged as proud sovereign states. Our two nations share an historical understanding of the importance of the total decolonisation and support for people under foreign occupation to freely exert their inalienable right to self-determination.

I commend Ireland on the significant political and diplomatic support it gave Algeria during its struggle for independence, in particular, Ireland's vote in favour of Algeria's right to self-determination at the UN General Assembly in 1959, despite pressures from other European countries, including France, the colonial ruler at the time. This happened during the tenure of then Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken and President Seán Thomas O'Kelly.

This common history paved the way for excellent political relations marked by regular bilateral consultations and the adoption of similar or close positions on international issues. Indeed, Algeria considers Ireland as a reliable and important partner, both in its national dimension and as a European country and member of the European Union.

Our bilateral trade has shown steady growth, currently standing €200 million and reaching a record high of nearly €300 million in 2022. Algeria is Ireland's fourth main trade partner in Africa.

This upward trend is anticipated to continue, reflecting untapped economic potential and fostering business, investment and cultural exchanges. In addition, education and academic collaboration have strengthened bonds between the two nations, with Algerian students benefiting from quality education in Ireland. By the end of this year, 2024, 135 students will have completed their four-year PhD studies at the University of Limerick, further enriching co-operation between Ireland and Algeria.

As we look towards the future, it is essential to nurture and expand relations between our two countries. Both nations have much to offer to each other by fostering stronger connections between people, encouraging business partnerships and promoting mutual understanding.

Mr. Mohammed Elbashir:

I thank the Chairman very much. We received a couple of emails. The first did not suggest that we would be speaking for five minutes or so while the second suggested we would, at which point it was a little bit late. However, I do have some main points to raise. I hope that will make me even briefer for the sake of the discussion.

Egypt and Ireland started on our paths to independence at pretty much the same time. The year 1922 was remarkable for both nations. There are a lot of similarities between the two countries' histories. Books have been written on this matter. It is no wonder that Egypt was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with Ireland, in 1975. The first African embassy in Ireland was the Egyptian Embassy, which was founded in 1978.

There are fewer than 5,000 Egyptian citizens residing in Ireland, where they live in a very peaceful manner. Most work in high-tech companies like Facebook and Google. I do not want to advertise for any companies but most Egyptian citizens here work in high-tech companies based in Ireland. Our bilateral trade is worth less than €500 million a year but we are working diligently to increase it in the coming period. A very important step that will boost bilateral relations, the beginning of direct flights between the two countries, was taken in June 2022. Egyptair flies direct from Cairo to Dublin four times a week, which helps our bilateral relations. These flights are always full so we are considering increasing the number of flights per week.

With regard to Africa, Egypt is a leading country in the African nation. We were one of the founding members of the Organisation of African Unity. Egypt has played a pivotal and very important role in the independence of almost every African country. We were very supportive of all independence movements in Africa. We are still playing this role in Africa. We have embassies in almost every country on the continent. I cannot think of one country in which we do not have an embassy.

We also have a very active Egyptian aid programme in Africa. We have discussed with the Irish authorities the idea of working together with the Irish Government on aid programmes in Africa. We were considering some sort of trilateral co-operation. We discussed the matter tentatively with Irish Aid but, due to the war in Ukraine, it has been postponed a little bit. We are going to revitalise it and work on it again because there are good prospects there and many aspects on which we could work together on the African continent.

I could not come here without mentioning Palestine, a very important subject that is dear to our hearts and to the hearts of the African continent. As a continent, Africa supports the Palestinians' inalienable right to statehood. We commend the position taken by Ireland in this regard. We believe that the Irish position has been very positive. We welcome it and expect even more from the Irish Government. It is setting an example not only for its country, but also for other European countries to follow. We look forward to the full recognition of the Palestinian state, which we understand is to come before the end of the month. We hope to hear some good news from Ireland before the end of the month.

Ireland's courageous and positive position has an impact on our position on Ireland. When Ireland is a candidate for different bodies of the UN or other entities, most of the time, it will get the support of the African continent. In its candidature for the Security Council in 2021 and 2022, it got the support of Egypt. I do not want to speak on behalf of my African colleagues here but I highly suspect that most, if not all, of us really supported Ireland in this regard. This is mainly because of its friendly positions on the continent and on topics that are very dear to our hearts, such as Palestine. We again thank Ireland for its position and we look forward to it doing more on Palestine in the current very critical period.

Ms Mabet Van Rensburg:

Chair, committee members, TDs and fellow diplomats, I extend our deep gratitude for this opportunity to review our strong and dynamic relationship with Ireland. As the committee will know, we established a diplomatic relationship 30 years ago and share deep roots based on the countries’ shared experiences of colonialism and respective struggles for freedom. These experiences also influence both countries' perspectives on many challenges facing the world today. Since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1993, the political and economic relations between South Africa and Ireland have been robust and now encompass a broad spectrum of co-operative initiatives in areas such as education, immigration, energy, trade and investment, tourism, arts and culture, agriculture, science and innovation and gender equality. Of course, we must also mention sport and rugby.

The two countries' historical ties, close friendship and shared values and interests have laid the foundation for a strong and enduring partnership. South Africa and Ireland’s common struggle against colonialism and oppression meant that a bond of friendship was forged that remains strong to this day. Ireland supported the international campaign against apartheid and welcomed anti-apartheid activists such as Dr. Kader Asmal, with whom it established the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. Both our regions face tremendous political and social challenges and, more often than not, these challenges also confront South Africa and Ireland as individual countries. However, through bilateral partnerships, political will, commitment and continued engagement, such as we are having here today, we will overcome these challenges.

It is important to note that there have been various high-level engagements between our two countries, including the recent telephonic discussions between Ireland's President and my President in December 2023 and March 2024. These discussions focused on global political developments, especially regarding Gaza and South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, an indication of our shared values.

South Africa is also grateful for our shared political approach towards many of the world’s challenges, more especially now with the profoundly serious situation in Gaza. The people of Palestine need global solidarity and South Africa supports the leadership Ireland has shown in Europe in this regard. We took note of the pronouncement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs announcing that Ireland will recognise a Palestinian state before the end of this month.

As we approach the seventh national democratic elections during the 30th anniversary of our democracy, it is especially poignant for us to pause and reflect on the importance of the international support, led by countries such as Ireland. Today, through strengthened co-operation and collaboration, our countries can advance, among others, the principles of human rights, democracy, self-determination and the peaceful co-existence of nations globally. Our nations held an online review meeting of the South Africa-Ireland Joint Commission for Cooperation on 17 May 2024.

We welcomed the opportunity to prepare for the next round of the JCC later this year in Dublin. This meeting was an ideal opportunity for both countries to lay the ground for driving our bilateral relations forward, including growing our bilateral trade, investment, tourism, science, technology and innovation, to name but a few.

Ireland and South Africa currently support a research partnership between the Universities of Technology in South Africa and Ireland, the THENSA THEA partnership, which enables researchers to exchange knowledge and expertise. The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa is another key initiative that identifies promising women and black-owned start-ups in South Africa and provides them with funding and mentoring in Ireland's tech ecosystem. On the education side, the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme has awarded over 100 fellowships since its establishment in 2013. Twelve South Africans received fellowships for the 2022-23 academic year, and the programme is cofunded by the South African Department of Higher Education to the value of two additional fellowships. We remain deeply grateful for this support. Education and training are an area that we believe has vast room for growth as we have much to learn from each other.

Funding is currently provided to several civil society organisations focusing on gender equality and women, peace and security, and once again, we thank Ireland for its support in this area.

South Africa is currently Ireland's main trading partner on the African continent and trade has grown by 14.6% in the past five years. As in all areas of our partnership, we believe that there is plenty of room for growth.

In a recent interview, Ireland's ambassador in South Africa acknowledged that South Africa, 30 years after its independence, is at a similar crossroads Ireland faced some time back and has similar challenges in attracting more FDI. Despite the challenges, Ambassador Gormley pointed out that Irish companies operating in South Africa have shown confidence in the country, with investments ranging from renewable energy to high-tech construction to fintech. The ambassador added that Irish companies see the potential in South Africa's skilled workforce and are keen to tap into this talent pool to create mutually beneficial partnerships.

We are aware of the various challenges impacting on our bilateral relations and trade and these are receiving our attention to ensure that unnecessary obstacles are removed. There are also concerns with regards to delays and backlogs with certain visa categories. We are engaging with our Department of Home Affairs and assure the committee that these challenges are receiving attention.

Internationally, both countries emphasise human rights, justice and accountability and will continue to advocate for fair treatment, conflict resolution, and adherence to international law in the implementation of our foreign policies and in the positions we adopt in multilateral organisations.

We take note of Ireland's international development policy, "A Better World", a comprehensive and ambitious plan that aims to address the most pressing challenges facing the world and Ireland's Africa strategy which seeks to strengthen its relationship with the African continent, with a focus on boosting trade, investment, and economic growth. An area worth noting is the prioritisation of institutional exchanges and innovative partnerships with Irish State agencies and private sector organisations to achieve greater impact and effectiveness in development co-operation.

In conclusion, South Africa looks forward to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and solidarity that we share with your country. The continuation of the excellent relations between our two countries and the Continent remains of significant importance and we stand with you in solidarity with the tasks which lie ahead. Let us build on the strong foundations of our partnership to secure a better future for South Africa, for Ireland, for Africa and for the world.

Mr. Mohammed Elbashir:

Thank you, Chairman. I am delighted to be here to address the honourable members of Parliament. It will be a good experience for us also.

I thank the committee for the opportunity to address this esteemed committee on the occasion of Africa Day. Ireland's broader relationship with Africa is a testament to its commitment to global solidarity and development. Ireland has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities across the continent. Through its development programmes, diplomatic initiatives, and contributions to peacekeeping, Ireland has shown a dedication to fostering peace, security, and prosperity in Africa.

Given its history of overcoming adversity and its commitment to international solidarity, Ireland can play a significant role in supporting Sudan's efforts to achieve its goals. Reflecting on the relationship between Ireland and Sudan, we see a partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared values. Both nations prioritise the promotion of human rights, sustainable development and peace. Ireland's support for Sudan, through both bilateral and multilateral engagement, has been invaluable in our pursuit of stability and progress. Here I will mention that the relationship between Ireland and Sudan began in the previous century.

As we mark this day, it is crucial to acknowledge the current situation in Sudan. Our nation is at a critical moment in its history, facing both profound challenges and opportunities for transformative change. The journey toward peace and stability has been challenging. The people of Sudan are striving to progress and realise their aspirations for a prosperous nation.

One of the most pressing issues is the recent outbreak of war instigated by the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, on 15 April 2023. The RSF attempted to seize power through violent means, and when their efforts failed, they turned their aggression against the Sudanese people. In their ruthless campaign, they have turned against the Sudanese people and taken control of civilian institutions that they were supposed to protect including hospitals, schools, universities and other public facilities, and, most alarmingly, have attacked and occupied the Al Jazeera state. This state is protected under international law because it hosts thousands of people fleeing the war-torn capital of Khartoum and other regions. They continue their attack. They have reached a new city in Darfour, that is, Alfasher, which also hosts thousands of displaced Sudanese who have fled from the war. They are still trying to capture it, although the victims are the Sudanese people. Specifically, we urge the international community, and Ireland, in particular, to support ending the war in Sudan as soon as possible through a Sudanese-led solution. We want the solution to come from the Sudanese themselves, not a solution imposed from outside. Anything imposed from outside cannot work. This war must spot.

Despite these challenges, there are reasons for optimism. The spirit of the Sudanese people, who have shown remarkable resilience and a strong desire for positive change, is a source of hope. The ongoing efforts to foster inclusive dialogue, promote human rights, and strengthen institutions of democracy are commendable. The Sudanese diaspora plays a vital role in supporting these efforts and bridging connections between Sudan and the international community. We have more than 7,000 Sudanese diaspora here, most of whom work in the health sector. In fact, most of them are doctors. Many Sudanese, particularly those working in the health sector, contribute significantly to both their host and home countries, exemplifying the spirit of resilience and solidarity.

In conclusion, while Sudan faces significant challenges, the potential for a peaceful and prosperous future remains within reach. It is through the collective efforts of the international community, including strong partners like Ireland, that Sudan can navigate this critical juncture. Let us use the spirit of Africa Day to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful, stable and thriving Sudan, and to the enduring partnership between our nations.

I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it. I am delighted to be here.

Mrs. Mamoratehi Bokopane:

I thank esteemed committee members, your excellencies and colleagues. I am delighted to have this opportunity to briefly highlight the relationship between Lesotho and Ireland. Lesotho is a landlocked country surrounded entirely by South Africa, which is our only neighbour. It is approximately 30,000 sq. km, three quarters of which are mountains. That is why Lesotho is known affectionately as the kingdom in the sky, which name was given to us by Ireland.

Lesotho became a colony of the United Kingdom from 1886 as a protectorate. Lesotho remained a separate country from South Africa. While South Africa was still under apartheid rule, Lesotho gained her independence in 1966.

Lesotho-Ireland relations started informally almost two centuries ago when an Irish mapper and missionary called Joseph Orpen arrived at Thaba-Bosiu, the home state of our founder King Moshoeshoe I, to be his adviser. When Lesotho got independence from UK in 1966, the Irish Government sent technocrats to assist the new government in establishing government departments for finance, health and education.

From 1966 to 2005, Lesotho's mission in Denmark also covered Ireland. Ireland officially opened her embassy in Lesotho in 1975, which means there have now been almost 50 years of formal relations. Lesotho moved her embassy from Denmark to Ireland in 2005 to cement cordial diplomatic relations. The relationship between our two states also saw Ireland offering human, financial and material support to a young nation by building schools, hospitals and clinics, and offering many scholarships to Lesotho students to study in several universities in Ireland and other countries.

Ireland has historically played a significant role in helping African states gain their independence from the former colonial masters. Perhaps Ireland understood the situation of being under colonial rule and the fact that she fought hard for her own independence from Britain. We can safely say that the Irish militancy helped them to understand the wars of independence in Africa.

Today, Ireland is playing a big role in Africa in the areas of development assistance and engaging in meaningful trade with African countries. We are also observing Irish involvement in world affairs where the Government of the people of the Republic of Ireland has condemned in no uncertain terms the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. We also observe the Irish involvement in peacekeeping missions in the Mediterranean area and Africa. Ireland needs our support.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Our guests are all very welcome and I thank them for coming before the committee. Those of us who get the opportunity to engage with ambassadors know that it is an extensive role and not quite the high life depicted in TV dramas. We know our guests are all very busy people and we appreciate their taking an afternoon out of their schedules to be with us.

I have a number of fairly broad questions. The ambassadors can respond to whichever question they feel is most appropriate. I want to get a sense from them on some issues. The first relates to trade. I was hoping to get a better understanding of how our guests' respective nations consider the trading priorities of Ireland and, by extension, the European Union, how those priorities affect our guests' regions and where improvements could be made to ensure the trading relationship is mutually beneficial, particularly in creating a better and more equal economic framework between our two continents.

For those states that have had relationships with Irish Aid, it would be useful to hear their understanding of how effective Irish Aid has been for regions of Africa and if there are areas in which they feel that improvements could be made. I would be particularly interested to hear our guests' views about their respective agricultural programmes and how better agricultural relationships could be built, touching on research and collaboration opportunities and the World Food Programme, as applicable. How can we better help each other to create food security across the world, which will be increasingly important?

Some of the ambassadors, particularly H.E. Mr. Mohamed Selim, mentioned the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ongoing conflict across Palestine and Israel. Our guests have specifically referenced the Irish response. The ambassador gave us a call to action in asking that we do more than has been done to date. I ask the ambassadors for their views on the global response to what has been happening in Gaza. Do they agree or accept that the European Union's capacity to play a more constructive role in the world has been damaged by its reluctance to hold Israel, in particular, accountable for its breaches of international law?

H.E. Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui:

I thank the Deputy, who I met previously when the genocide in Gaza started. I thank him for what he has done and what his party is doing. I am also grateful for what the Government of Ireland is doing. We appreciate what Ireland is doing in helping the Palestinian people and in Gaza in particular.

I will start by answering the Deputy's last question about business and what we can do between our two countries. Morocco is the nearest country to Europe. It is a stable country that is doing well in business. For me, business and trade are the backbone of any relationship.

I have long advocated that between Ireland and Morocco we will have a lot of things to do and we must seize all opportunities. One specific area is that post-Brexit, it is very important to develop a shipping line between Cork and Tangier to open the Moroccan market of around 40 million people to the Irish market. Because Morocco is a gate to Africa, this would also give the opportunity to Irish businesses, farmers and so on to be present. Morocco has free trade with the USA. It is the only country that has free trade with the USA and Europe in Africa and the Arab world. It has also free trade with different countries in the Mediterranean. We are granted advanced status with Europe.

With Morocco there is an opportunity to do business in different sectors. We are doing well in industry. We are producing around 700,000 cars per year now. We are targeting around 1 million by next year. We are doing well in green energies. That is another field in which we can co-operate and exchange our experiences. We are doing well in aeronautics. 70% of Airbus is done in Morocco right now, and we have seen outsourcing for many countries moving to Morocco. In green energy, we have the biggest solar farm in the world in Ouarzazate in Morocco.

I will move on to the second question about agriculture. We are producing a lot of fertilisers and now we are targeting Africa in our production. We have two big factories, one in Nigeria and another in Ethiopia, and we are in talks with Kenya. We are producing fertilisers adapted to the soil of each country, to maintain food security. We are also involved in a big project from Nigeria to Morocco, a pipeline of gas across 13 African countries. Each country will also develop access to energy from that project. We are thinking about Africa and trying to integrate and to help. We are looking for Ireland to be a member of this tripartite partnership in which we can also gather our energies and move on.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Belaoura:

I thank Deputy Carthy for his questions. I will touch on a few elements. With regard to co-operation between Ireland and Africa, Europe and Africa, and, in general, between Africa and other countries or regions, as I mentioned at the beginning, the African continent has great potential in both human capacities and in minerals and wealth. However, the African countries are facing many challenges. I have some figures. While the African continent contains 18% of the world population, Africa is still contributing to world GDP by less than 3%. The world GDP is $100 trillion yet GDP in Africa is less than $3 trillion. It is a huge problem. The contribution of African countries to global trade has gone from 2.2% in 2000 to 3.5%. Still we are far from a fair contribution to world trade or the world economy in general. The past experience for Africa's development has been that of facing many challenges.

The international contribution towards African development through public aid development falls short of meeting the objectives and needs of the African continent. One of the issues is the lack of a good understanding of African needs. Usually African needs, African economic and social programmes in their details, are not really focused on. There is a need for ownership by African countries of their connections or relations with the rest of the world. I know that many countries including Ireland are doing their utmost to help African countries through aid, trade and investment engagement. Still, there is something missing in the whole relations with Europe and India, for example. That is why we have some other issues coming out of these economic situations in Africa, namely migration. There is a huge number of immigrants coming from the continent to Europe looking for jobs and a better life. There is an issue regarding the economic and social conditions for these young people to be kept in their own countries.

I will give the Deputy another figure. There was a report from the UN Secretary General in the 1990s about conflicts in Africa and development. The UN was spending $1.2 billion for MINUSMA, the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations in Mali, one of the largest missions of the UN in Africa. There was instability there as we all know. If we asked the donor countries to continue spending this without having the mission, just to prevent any instability or conflict situation, to help this country in particular, just as an example, to build infrastructure, to invest this money, they would not agree. This is a big issue which brings me to one of the conclusions. African countries and Africa in general needs more trade, more co-operation relations than aid, which often does not really focus on African needs and does not solve the issue.

I will say a few words on relations between Algeria and Ireland. As I mentioned in my opening statement, Algeria-Ireland bilateral trade reached a peak in 2022 of €300 million. This of course is a modest amount compared with other partners of Ireland or of the whole of Ireland's external trade. Still, it is very important in our bilateral relations, which had been at about €160 million to €180 million a year for years. It means there is big potential for trade between our two countries, in particular since Algeria is now engaging in a huge effort of investment in infrastructure and mining industries. We are investing $6 billion in the next three years in phosphate in the eastern part of the country. It is a huge project which will bring production to approximately 9 million tonnes or so. We are also investing more than €5 billion in the western part of the country in steel and iron at Gâra Djebilet.

This will multiply our iron and steel production. I refer to the building of a deep water huge port in the northern central part of Algiers. This will be linked to an important network of roads, which are either already built or are in construction. We have around 42,000 km of larger roads, if we can call them that, and a railway network that will connect the north with the borders of Niger and Mali. This will also be of benefit to other counties such as Chad and Mauritania. Trade with African countries, European countries and the rest of world is good, but the investment dimension and ownership by African countries of their development process is of utmost importance.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chair. I welcome their excellencies. I wish them all a happy Africa day. There have been tremendous bonds between Ireland and Africa going back to my childhood. There was much interest in Africa because of the large number of Irish missionaries who went to Africa. Apart from the great idealistic work they were doing and the energy they brought with them, it also created back here an interest in and an awareness of Africa and a fondness or bond that would not have existed otherwise and that continues.

On the area of agriculture, I am very aware that the former director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, who is known to the Chair, did initiate a number of links with Africa in terms of agriculture through co-operation between Teagasc and agricultural development work in Africa. The Chair might know more about this. Some of it was centred in Gambia, but it was centred in a number of countries in Africa and Professor Boyle did some great work in that area as director of Teagasc.

I wish to raise a few things as quickly as I can. First, on Gaza, it would be interesting to hear a few of the witnesses' views on how, after the horrific war and genocide that is in progress at the moment, they might see Gaza? What do they see as a positive construct there or can they see anything positive? How would they see Gaza, as an entity, emerge from this in terms of an administration and life there? I would like to hear from the neighbouring countries in particular. Our Egyptian colleague might have something to say about that. Any of the ambassadors may have something interesting to say on how Gaza and the whole territories there would evolve from this war situation. What sort of structures will exist? What role would neighbouring countries play there? That may be interesting.

On migration, as the witnesses are diplomatic personnel, they are quite aware, because they keep themselves well briefed, that migration is emerging as a bit of a political issue in this country. That begs the question as to what can be done in the countries that are the sources of migration to create infrastructure and a society where migration is not necessary and on how Europe can contribute to that and how we in Europe could influence that. It may be interesting to get a comment on that. That obviously relates to the level of trade and green energy. The Algerian ambassador elucidated the great lack of development of trade, business and industry within Africa relative to the rest of the world. That does offer the potential to create green energy and a whole green industry now that they are beginning from scratch, in many instances. I am interested in that.

I ask the Sudanese ambassador specifically what is being done to protect civilians from the horrors of the fighting and what supports are hoped for in protecting them in terms of peacekeeping and so on. We sympathise and empathise as it is very distressing to hear of the fighting in Sudan. It depresses all of us listening to the news in the morning to hear that.

On South Africa, I ask Her Excellency about energy, blackouts and that kind of thing. Are they are co-operating with the ESB in Ireland? What areas of co-operation might be established to deal with energy issues in South Africa? Is there potential to work alongside the ESB? To what extent has that been exploited?

To finish, as a general thesis, there are a number of things. We have to work together to create the conditions in Africa where migration would be like the way it is currently in Ireland, thankfully. It is a matter of choice whether one leaves Ireland at the moment. We need that to be the case all over the world, that people leave their homeland by choice, rather than being forced out. It is incumbent on the rest of the world to create conditions where people will not be forced out. The whole green energy area is interesting. I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak.

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Selim:

I thank the Chair. Very briefly, we missed one point by Deputy Carthy regarding the double standard when it comes to Gaza. I absolutely agree with the Deputy. There is definitely a double standard. It has been felt and sensed not only in the Arab world but even in the west as well. We have seen it already. We have had leaders from the international community, namely, from the west, talking about certain values, such as respecting the UN charter and international humanitarian law when it had to do with a conflict in Europe. However, when it happened in Palestine a few months later, everybody was shying away and turned their heads, which is very sad, to be quite honest. It will have major repercussions in the international community mechanisms in the coming period. It has started already. We have already seen many countries in the UN and different bodies drawing the comparison between the positions of certain states when it had to with a conflict in Europe and what is happening in Palestine.

Regarding the Senator's question on Gaza, the administration that could follow and whether there is anything positive, with regard to the administration, it has to do with the Palestinian administration. Unfortunately we do not have our Palestinian ambassador here who would be best to talk about it. Egypt, and indeed any other country, should have the same answer, which is that it is up to the Palestinians to decide what they are going to do their administration. Any talk regarding an interim administration or ideas and things like that is fantasy, to be quite honest.

If it is not driven by the Palestinians themselves, it will not bear fruit and will not materialise.

As for anything positive that could come up, unfortunately it is a very sad situation. There are a lot of negative aspects regarding this situation. If there is anything positive about this conflict, it is the fact that the Palestinian position internationally and on the world stage is much better. There is a lot of support, and I have not seen that in decades. The solidarity with the rights of Palestinians and Palestinian statehood is evident and clear, especially among newer generations. We have seen it in universities and among the younger generation, including in the West. These are things we have not seen previously.

With regard to reconstruction, it has been alluded to that there could be something like a Marshall Plan - that was not the term used - for Gaza after the conflict. I think it is a futile exercise if we talk about reconstruction because Gaza has been reconstructed several times before. The European countries have provided billions of euro to fund areas and institutions in Gaza and they have been bombed once again. Many of the Arab states have also provided a lot of money for Gaza. Many places have been bombed not once but twice and thrice. Basically, it is unending. The question this raises is why any donor state would even consider providing any aid for an institution when there is a likelihood that it will be bombed a few weeks later and the same country will be asked again to provide finance and aid for it. The only way out of this is to address the core issue, namely, the cause of the Palestinians and their right to statehood. Everybody should be working for a political solution that addresses the grievances of the Palestinian people. They should go ahead in regard to declaring the Palestinian state, hopefully in negotiation with the Israeli side, which is not showing any signs of flexibility towards having a political solution to this conflict.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Elbashir:

I thank Senator O'Reilly for his question. The situation in Sudan is very complicated. Every day, we are losing people. We have lost people and so many things because of this war which has been imposed on the Sudanese people. No one chose this situation but it is imposed on us. The causes have been rooted for a long time and now we are facing a very critical situation. This war is even threatening Sudan's existence. The Government of Sudan is still working for peace and to stop this war. It made an agreement in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia last year. This is supposed to be fulfilled by the other party but it refuses to leave civilian buildings. It signed the agreement but has not taken any steps to fulfil its commitments. The war is now severe, especially in Gezira and in Al Fashir in Darfur. This is the responsibility of the Government of Sudan and other countries that neighbour Sudan. We thank all of our neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which have made a great effort. The international community has tried to find a solution but the Rapid Support Forces always refuse to stop. Although they allege they want to bring about democracy, democracy cannot be brought about by killing people or destroying the state infrastructure.

In places that are under the control of the Government of Sudan, life is normal life, although there are difficulties. The people living there are suffering a lot, even my family because I have family there. Everybody is suffering. On the other side, if there are Rapid Support Forces in an area, the people there suffer every day. News agencies, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations have been witness to what the Rapid Support Forces do in Sudan. We are sorry about what is happening but we ask the international community, especially Ireland, to support the efforts to stop this war. Sudan is a great country. It neighbours many countries and before the war, it hosted at least 3 million refugees from other countries that are also experiencing conflict. We have a programme with Europe to combat and find solutions for illegal immigration. This situation has become very severe. I ask members to raise their voices so as to stop what is happening now in Sudan because it is affecting not only Sudan but Africa and the whole world.

Ms Mabet Van Rensburg:

There is nothing like the crisis we have had to bring innovation to the forefront. Being African, we are pretty resilient in overcoming challenges. There is a lot happening in terms of research co-operation between the universities and institutes. For instance, I know that energy is one of the areas that has been identified under the THENSA partnership. Various universities across Ireland are working with our universities in South Africa. Areas like solar, green hydrogen and wind are all receiving a lot of attention and much of that then filters up into Eskom on our side and the ESB on the Irish side. We all realise that without looking at renewables, the world is going to struggle. In a way, Eskom has forced us to work and get onto this a lot quicker than we probably would have had Eskom been working. There is a lot of co-operation taking place in research and technology and we are coming to see how we can improve and get those sectors up and running a lot quicker.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the witnesses to the meeting. We certainly have a critical history in common insofar as Ireland was also a colonised country. I thank the witnesses for the kind words about Ireland and whatever help we have been on the international stage.

Palestine is a defining political issue for us in the EU. Palestine is very close to our hearts and I am wearing my Palestinian Ireland flag today. I wear it every chance I get. I thank in particular South Africa for the work it has done at the International Court of Justice. I thank it for the courage and wisdom it has shown. We were very proud to see Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh who is involved in that case and in the events at the court yesterday. We would like to see justice being delivered at some stage.

It is amazing for us as a European country, a member of the EU, that it took a country on the other side of the world to stand up and take that first move in getting some justice for Palestine and bringing the perpetrators of those war crimes to justice. I thank the witnesses for that. I accept all their words about how important Gaza is. I extend my solidarity to the people of Sudan and it is horrendous that 9 million people have been displaced. As was said, the solution has to come from Sudan and my good wishes and my solidarity to our guest in that regard.

Our colonial past is very much part of our present. We carry it in ourselves, in our memory and in our trauma. My first question is, I suppose, philosophical. How are the young people in the witnesses' respective countries working that out and working through that in terms of art, literature, popular culture and politics? Do they have much interest in politics? Are there new businesses, innovation, that kind of thing. It is important to look to the future as well.

H.E. Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui:

I would like to mention that with Ireland, we have signed seven memorandums of understanding, MoUs. between universities in Ireland and in Morocco. We believe in the young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow. In this regard, we also are very linked to Africa and we offer around 16,000 internships to African students to come to Morocco to share with us our culture and our ancestor's culture, which has lasted for 12 centuries. We also have a lot of festivals to show what we do in Morocco including Mawazine in Rabat, the gnaoua music festival in Essaouira and the sacred music festival in Fez. The first university in the world is in Fez and was set up by a lady in the seventh century. We are doing a lot of things.

We are very close to Europe and are sharing with Europe a lot of things that are very important to show like culture, gastronomy and the imperial cities we have in Morocco. Like Ireland, Morocco is a country of tourism. We have seen a lot of Irish going to Morocco and have two direct flights with Ryanair. Ryanair is becoming one of the biggest companies in Morocco and has five bases in Morocco; one in Fez, one in Marrakesh, one in Rabat, one in Agadir and one in Tangier. We have also just granted it licences for domestic flights. These kinds of changes help us to share what we have in common, the history, the culture and the way of living. That is what they can say about what we have in common with Ireland.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I will be brief. I welcome all the representatives here today and thank them for their presentations, their time and the work they do. I also want to be associated with the comments about Gaza and what is happening there. It is absolutely appalling and shocking. That has been said already by many of us. We wish for a ceasefire and an end to that conflict. Also to our friend from Sudan, we wish him and his people well. What is happening in his country is horrific as well and we all want it to stop. War, no matter where it happens, is dreadful. It is the worst thing that could be imagined by anybody.

Can I ask one or two brief questions? When I look at Africa I see huge potential as a continent. There is huge energy and massive potential. I notice in some parts of the world, the population is ageing but I am told that in Africa, the population is going to go from 1.49 billion this year to 2.49 billion in 2050. The population is going to grow enormously if the projections are correct. Having young people is fantastic. They are innovative. We have talked about education and about universities and transfers, technology and so on. Given that growth in population and given climate challenges as well, what is happening in the countries to prepare for that growth in population? That is the first question.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Belaoura:

Just a few words on two elements. The first element is that, as the Deputy rightly mentioned, Africa has very young people. This has to be valorised and used in the right direction. We can have a very young population and still have huge challenges for the population, such as candidates for immigration and other things. The investment in infrastructure and education is the key word. African countries, in general, have an average of less than 25% of people in schools, scolarisation, I think, is the right word. We need to improve this figure and these numbers.

In Algeria, education has been for a long time, for decades, the first item in the Government budget, even before national defence. We now have, out of a population of 48 million, 13 million students, of whom 3 million go to universities. This is very important to give opportunity to the other sectors to benefit from education, a well-trained population and skilled young people. Education is the key word but this level of educational development cannot be reached unless we can ensure there is, in parallel, rural development. In Africa, mainly in the rural areas, there are a lot of issues linked to water, housing and access to the villages. Hundreds of thousands of villages are lacking basic amenities and are lacking schools. This is of utmost importance.

Another thing is the green energy, of course, and the renewable energy. Africa has huge potential in that. We see this, especially in the Sahel region. The Algerian territory is 2.4 million sq. km. in area of which 1.8 million sq. km is like the Sahara, where out of 365 days we have 330 or 340 days of sun. That has huge potential. Yet, this needs huge investment to bring a benefit to the whole area, from Senegal to Sudan, and there are of course 13 countries in the area. There is big potential but we still need partners. That is what I referred to earlier, ownership of African needs. It is very important for Africans to have the opportunity to expand their needs and then they can invest in those areas.

Ms Mabet Van Rensburg:

Just a quick question and this where we want to thank Ireland specifically.

A lot of what the committee is talking about is also tied to the empowerment of women in Africa, their economic independence and their ability to make decisions about their reproductive health, and that will go a long way to resolving many issues that are developing. Something on which South Africa is very gung ho, therefore, is how to strengthen women and secure their independence in order that they can make the decisions that are right for them and their families.