Algeria Urges G20 to Forge Agricultural and Energy Partnerships with Africa at Johannesburg Summit
Algeria has called upon the G20 to establish substantive partnerships with African nations, focusing on agricultural development and a just energy transition, as a means to bolster continental resilience against climate change and food insecurity. The appeal was made during the second session of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, which centered on building a resilient world through disaster risk reduction and sustainable food systems.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune outlined the severe climate vulnerabilities facing Algeria, including rising temperatures, droughts, water scarcity, and an increase in forest fires and floods. He detailed the country’s comprehensive national strategy, which involves a reinforced legal and institutional framework for disaster management, significant financial allocations through national funds, and the development of advanced early warning systems.
A Continental Mechanism for Disaster Response
Expanding the scope beyond its borders, President Tebboune announced that Algeria is spearheading the creation of an African mechanism for disaster risk prevention. This initiative aims to establish a regional civilian force dedicated to preparedness and immediate response, ensuring effective support and reconstruction aid for affected nations. Furthermore, work is ongoing to activate the Arab Center for the Prevention of Earthquake and Other Natural Disaster Risks, headquartered in Algiers, to foster scientific research and technological exchange across the Arab world.
Prioritizing Food Security and Agricultural Partnerships
Identifying self-sufficiency and food security as top national priorities, the President highlighted Algeria’s own agricultural transformations, particularly in its southern regions. From this standpoint, he explicitly called on G20 member states to form partnerships aimed at developing agricultural and livestock production across Africa. Such collaborations, he argued, are critical to reducing the hunger and food crises prevalent in many parts of the continent, citing Algeria’s existing cooperation with the World Food Programme and the FAO as successful models.
The Imperative for a Just Energy Transition in Africa
The address also tackled the profound challenges of the global energy transition as they pertain to Africa. President Tebboune pointed to the stark disparity that sees the continent home to 18 percent of the world’s population yet accounting for less than 6 percent of global energy consumption, with an electrification rate that barely reaches 45 percent. He stressed that addressing climate change requires intensive mitigation efforts, particularly in the energy sector, but that this must be balanced with the continent’s pressing development needs.
To achieve this, he outlined a set of necessary conditions, including accessible international financial support, frameworks for technology transfer, and capacity building in developing nations. Algeria formally called for energy transition partnerships between G20 and African countries, asserting that a successful transition is fundamental to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy, economic growth, and climate action.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Algerian government expressed its readiness to share its expertise, noting it has surpassed a generation capacity of 25,000 megawatts and is currently implementing several projects with foreign partners to enhance its clean energy portfolio, which contributes to both national and regional development.
Source: https://www.aps.dz/en/algeria/51260-g20-summit-algeria-calls-for-partnerships-with-african-nations-in-agriculture-energy-transition