Africa has huge resources including minerals, gas, waters and human resources that can enable the continent to achieve prosperity, but for this to be achieved, peace must reign, the President of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Denis Sassou Nguesso, has said.

Nguesso made the remarks on July 21 as he addressed a joint session of Rwanda Parliament.

The President is in Rwanda for a State Visit that runs from July 21 to 22.

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He pointed out that there is a need for Africa countries to attain a sufficient level of collective autonomy for the continent’s industrial development, and to put in place greater collaboration in order to ensure Africa’s bigger share of global industrial production.

The future of the African continent, he said, will be determined by aspects including the transformation of its natural resources (for value addition).

He added that effective implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) would contribute to the achievement of a united, independent, and prosperous Africa.

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Africa, Nguesso said, has significant global mineral reserves, petroleum and gas wealth, vast arable land areas, and remains the biggest reserve of raw materials on the planet.

Again, he pointed out that rivers including Congo, Nile, and Zambezi, helped Africa to be endowed with a considerable hydro power potential, estimated at 300 gigawatts, which are largely underexploited.

He also said that the continent has an opportunity to harness sunshine for solar energy, which is eco-friendly.

"The effective utilisation of this immense hydroelectric potential would permit our continent to become one of the main – if not the most powerful – electricity exporters in the world,” he said.

"Developing Africa remains within our reach,” he said.

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Meanwhile, referring to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi which devastated Rwanda, Nguesso said "I salute Rwanda, a country which, after the tragedy of the Genocide, courageously rose up to rebuild its unity, and cohesion, restore peace and security, and place itself with determination on the path of development."

The President of the Senate, François-Xavier Kalinda, said that the president’s message was aligned with what the continent needs, including peace and prosperity.

He promised parliamentary support to the implementation of commitments signed between Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville for their greater relations and the welfare of their people.