South Korea is hosting the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit since the Korean government was founded in 1948 by inviting delegations from 48 African countries, about 30 of whom were state leaders.
During the summit’s opening on Tuesday morning, June 4, 2024, Africans who live in Korea from Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Egypt gathered to protest their leaders being invited to the country in Ilsan City, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, where the two-day summit taking place.
Ethiopians in Korea staged a protest against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia, since he took power in 2018 nearly a million Ethiopians have died of civil war, conflicts, and famine and over 5 million people internally displaced due to his inability to lead the country. Abiy waged terrible battles in the Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia regions of Ethiopia where his national defense forces committed war atrocities, genocide, and siege. Abiy’s drone attacks on civilians are a concern to the UN Human Rights Office troubled by the devastating impact of drone strikes and other violence on the population in the Amhara region as clashes continue between the ENDF and its allies and ethnic Amhara militia known as Fano.
Egyptians protested by chanting no to Abdel Fattah el Sisi’s government, condemning the detainment of solidarity activists with Palestine. Nigerians who advocate for the establishment of the Republic of Biafra, in Nigeria, call for free Biafra and demand a referendum.
The two day’s Korea-Africa Summit 2024 kicked off on June 4, 2024, in Ilsan City where African Heads of delegations and Heads of Africa-related international organizations participated under the theme of “The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity.” It has been reported that the Korean government is interested in pledging 10 billion dollars to African countries by 2030 while providing $14 billion of export financing to Korean firms to stimulate Korean investments across Africa. In addition, according to the Korea Times, agreements made on stable supply, and development of critical minerals with The Critical Minerals Dialogue being launched between Korea and Africa aim to stabilize supply chains through mutually beneficial cooperation.
For further information, visit the official website: Main > 2024 Korea-Africa Summit (2024rokasummit.kr)
