Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to thank the witnesses, especially given the late hour for some of them.
We know that a number of western countries have slowly withdrawn from Africa in recent decades. As a result, others quickly swooped in to fill the vacuum, as politics abhors a vacuum. China and Russia, among other countries, have rushed in. That has led to the known consequences. Canada is one potential investor, and an attempt is being made to convince the Government of Canada that Africa is a land of opportunity and that it must be reinvested in massively.
However, the three witnesses have painted a rather bleak picture of the situation in Africa. We are talking about a reduction in economic growth. We are also talking about an increase in crises potentially stemming from climate change, such as population movements, political crises and food crises.
Mr. Sultan, how can the government be convinced given such a bleak picture?
Then I'll ask Mr. Diaw and Ms. Heines the same question.