Many African countries' relationships with others still follow colonial pattern – Senegal’s Bathily

JOHANNESBURG - Senegalese politician and diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily says while many countries on the African continent gained independence many decades ago, their relationships with some countries continue to follow a colonial pattern.

Bathily was speaking as a guest in Midrand on Saturday, where he delivered the annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day lecture.

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Africa Day, taking place on 25 May, is celebrated on the continent annually to mark the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, which is now known as the African Union (AU).

Bathily said while Africa has made significant progress since ending colonial ties with European countries, the continent remains largely dependent on relationships with those countries.

Bathily said the continent has received aid in the form of grants over the last two decades, but they have not brought any real improvement for the continent.

"The continent is still in some form of bondage: political dependency, economic dependency and now military dependency."

Bathily said today the continent finds itself where it was in the late 19th and 20th centuries, with different parties fighting for Africa's resources.