Abidjan Summit Ends, New Page Opens

 President Paul Biya and wife Chantal Biya left Abidjan yesterday, November 30 with rekindled hope after participating in the 5th AU-EU Summit.

The over 80 Heads of State and government from countries of the African Union and European Union including President Paul Biya of Cameroon, wrapped up deliberations at the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire yesterday, November 30, with twisted faces against the disturbing phenomenon African youth in particular are going through but with determination to end the scourge.

The host President, Alassane Ouattara in his speech delivered at the closing ceremony was more confident when he stated inter alia that the end of the summit in Abidjan was not in itself the solution of the problem but the opening of a new page of partnerships between Africa and Europe geared towards putting an end to the problem.

Considering the intensity of discussions on the various topics, epitomised by youth related problems, discussions one of the summit Chair persons, Alpha Conde described as frank and responsible, yesterday's closing ceremony was rather brief ending with a general declaration with focus on the slave trade in Libya.

If there was something Heads of State left satisfied with, it was the convergence of views, the conviction and determination towards enhancing reforms that will favour youth employment in an effort to discourage the massive exit from Africa to Europe. There was general agreement to open investigation on what has been happening in Libya, identify culprits and bring them to book.

But the youth representatives who were central in the confab kept reminding their parents not to disappoint them. This sounded like a clarion call which the Heads of State took seriously as could be discerned from the hope raising statement of one of them, President Conde. "Our action must hinge very much on the preoccupations of the youth", he said, adding that the fight against illegal immigration is a collecti...