OACPS Summit: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Nations Unite for a Fairer World
The 11th Summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) has concluded with a renewed commitment by Member States to strengthen collective action in addressing pressing global challenges.
The high-level meeting, held in Malabo, closed on Sunday in a spirit of unity and shared responsibility, signalling a new phase for the tri-continental bloc.
Incoming Summit President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, reaffirmed the organisation’s role as a platform for open dialogue among its 79 Member States.
He emphasised the need for coordinated responses to emerging global issues, including geopolitical tensions, armed conflict, climate change, economic inequality, and food and energy insecurity.
President Mbasogo stressed that the OACPS must evolve to remain effective, calling for institutional strengthening, modernised operational systems, and the adoption of innovative tools to meet the expectations of its citizens.
He further urged Member States to defend their interests in multilateral forums and advocate for a more balanced and inclusive international order. Key priorities outlined include enhancing South-South cooperation, diversifying strategic partnerships, and deepening economic integration.
On matters of peace and security, President Mbasogo highlighted the importance of stability as a prerequisite for sustainable development, noting that prosperity cannot be achieved amid conflict and uncertainty.
To guide the organisation’s next phase, he directed Secretary-General Moussa Saleh Batraki to develop a three-year operational roadmap. The plan will focus on institutional reform, financial sustainability, and the effective implementation of priority programmes.
In his vote of thanks, Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, said the summit reaffirmed the organisation’s strengthened identity and its capacity to leverage its vast human and natural resources.
He noted that the OACPS is poised to speak with a unified voice on global issues such as development, climate change, trade, and governance.
President Ndayishimiye also paid tribute to the outgoing Summit President, João Lourenço of Angola, while welcoming the leadership of President Mbasogo.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a formal communiqué presented by the Secretary-General during a high-level dialogue with OACPS Captains of Industry.
Zambia was represented at the summit by Ambassador Mary Chirwa, on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema. Her delegation included officials from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Bank of Zambia, and diplomatic staff from Zambian missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium.
