Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Members of the committee, I am honoured to appear before you today, even at this late hour for us. It is 11:00 p.m. for me and 9:00 p.m. for my colleague Michael Callan. We are nonetheless very happy to be here to meet with the members of the committee.

My name is Ben Marc Diendéré. I am Canada’s Permanent Observer to the African Union, and I am the first person to hold this position full-time. With me this evening are my colleagues Michael Callan, Ambassador of Canada to Algeria, and Christopher Thornley, High Commissioner for Canada in the Republic of Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Mr. Chair, we are testifying today just two days after World Africa Day. It is truly an honour to be here. I am sure that we have the support of the 25 other Canadian heads of mission on the African continent.

Mr. Chair, members of the committee, my remarks today will briefly outline the opportunity and challenges vis-à-vis advancing Canada's engagement with African countries and institutions. My colleagues and I look forward to answering your questions.

On the opportunity, Africa is forecast to be the world's second-fastest growing region in 2024, after Asia. It has one of the fastest-growing middle classes, providing a source of dynamics and vast market potential. The wealth gap remains deep, with 60% of the world's extreme poor living in sub-Saharan Africa.

The development gap remains deep on this continent. The continent’s demographic youth bulge—70% of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 30—represents an opportunity, but also poses challenges. For example, the lack of adequate, market-relevant skills and employment opportunities is an impediment to their meaningful contribution to economic development.

The impact of climate change, peace, and security challenges heighten vulnerabilities, particularly among women and youth, threatening the well-being of African young people.

African countries and institutions are proactively exploring various options to address their national, regional, and continental challenges. They seek mutually beneficial partnerships that will meet their needs and empower them to address their own challenges.

They are diversifying and forging stronger relationships with global economic powers, like China and India, and partners like Turkey and the Gulf states. They are doing so bilaterally and through multilateral fora, such as BRICS and G20.

Within the rapidly changing global environment, and in response to calls by our African partners, Global Affairs Canada is redefining its engagement with this continent to better capitalize on mutual interests with African countries and institutions, and support win-win partnerships.

My appointment as Canada's first dedicated permanent observer to the African Union signals an intention to broaden and deepen Canada's engagement on the continent, and our interest in enhancing partnerships with the African Union and its organizations.

As the African Union is the pre-eminent organization on the continent, our engagement with it promotes our mutual interests in trade, investment, democracy, human rights and human development. Together, we are exploring new and better ways of working, including with the private sector, to address development challenges and other continental priorities like peace and security.

Canada's overall engagement with Africa is guided by the African Union's strategic vision for the continent as captured in Agenda 2063, the cornerstone of the continent's future. Agenda 2063 also introduces its continental free trade area pilot project. Our ongoing series of high-level dialogues with the African Union have proven to be a platform where our shared priorities can be discussed and common approaches can be established.

The most recent of these dialogues took place in Addis Ababa earlier this month. Canada's Minister of International Development co-chaired with African Union Commission leadership discussions on how to evolve our international assistance to better respond to the needs and priorities identified by African countries and institutions.

In April, Canada welcomed Bankole Adeoye, the commissioner for political affairs, peace and security in Ottawa. He met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Global Affairs officials, and appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

While our partnership with the African Union is important for the reasons I have described, we must always recognize that Africa is a vast continent made up of 54 different countries with diverse economies, cultures, and languages. African countries and institutions have been very clear about their interests and priorities.

At the continental level, the African Union Agenda 2063 outlines a long-term vision, focusing on sustainable and inclusive economic growth and good governance.

At the national level, as my colleagues can attest, national plans are in place. In-between these units of governance are the regional economic communities who have their own strategic plans.

African countries and institutions have been clear about their interests and priorities.

What I hear from country representatives at the African Union, and what our heads of missions hear through our vital bilateral relationships—