On the sidelines of the recent World Public Summit held in Moscow in September, New Eastern Outlook spoke with Sabena Johannes, the President and CEO of Afritrack Angola. The talk turned out to be quite emotional and highly relevant.

 

Sabena Yohannes: “We must become a single force”    BY Yuliya Novitskaya

 

We touched upon her “The Voice of Reason” appeal, written on the eve of the summit, about her expectations and whether they were fulfilled.

 

– Ms. Sabena, on the eve of the World Public Summit, which took place in Moscow in September, you wrote an appeal to humanity, addressing key issues of today’s existence relevant for African women and for every inhabitant of planet Earth…

– My article is called “The Voice of Reason.” It is the voice of a woman who emerged from the chaos of war and the inhuman suffering that defines much of our day. This voice talks about the reason we have to speak. To speak out beyond the sphere of politics, beyond indifference, beyond skin color, and beyond social status. We must see humanity collectively and affirm that we are human beings, and we must abandon wars and eliminate the suffering it entails!

– Your professional path has always been closely linked to engineering, an area that is traditionally considered male and women rarely seek.

– Indeed. Nevertheless, from the very beginning, I realized that it was my true calling. Having a degree in engineering and finance, I managed to combine two disciplines that complement each other perfectly. Owing to this dual specialization, I can not only manage the technical aspects of projects but also effectively handle financial and business aspects.

We all agree that, today, we all need to look for ways to de-escalate, restore trust and create new formats of cooperation 

For me, engineering is not just the implementation of technical tasks; it is, first of all, creativity and innovation, the opportunity to create and build something that leaves a long-term mark on society and shapes the future generation.…

– Which expectations did you have for the World Public Summit, and were they met?

– You know, the summit was not at all what I expected; it exceeded all of my expectations. It turned out to be much grander and more ambitious than I imagined. This is the first time such an event has occurred in world history, and this is incredibly important, timely, and in demand.

It is encouraging that all those gathered at the summit are well aware that no political, economic, or ideological interests can be higher than the value of human life. We all agree that, today, we all need to look for ways to de-escalate, restore trust, and create new formats of cooperation.

The draft manifesto of conscious unity includes the words, “We are acting today so that the next generations will inherit a world capable of development and creation.” There is really nothing to add here.

– Are such events important and in demand around the world?

– I am convinced that in our world filled with catastrophes, holding such events is not only necessary but also extremely important. They should be held annually, and each time they would gather more and more like-minded people and colleagues in various fields. We must live on this planet without obstacles and restrictions.

– How was the mood at the summit? Friendly, free, open?

– Yes, absolutely. This was especially evident in the business sector. The feeling of universal spiritual unity commitment to the same values and goals persists even now.

– Ms. Sabena, have you participated in any events comparable to this summit?

– No! Never! And that is the truth. I have never attended any such summit before—nothing like it has ever been held before.

– A truly historic event took place at the World Public Summit: the Award of Public Recognition for Service to Humanity was presented for the first time. And you became its laureate, along with representatives from Russia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, India, and the UK.

– It is a great honor for me. It seems to me that there is no force in the world that can resist united minds. We all have a lot of work to do. We have not provided universal education for everyone. We have not stopped the wars born of prejudice and division.

Today, more than ever, the Voice of Reason demands that we wake up, rise, and act. Act with courage, compassion, and justice. The principle of “one for all, and all for one” should not remain just a slogan; it should become our reality.

– What is the most important thing you learned from this summit?

– We will all take home the energy of cooperation and readiness for new projects. The world today stands at a crossroads between reason and chaos, empathy and indifference, unity and destruction. And we have to wake up, whether it’s Africa, Asia, Europe, America, or Oceania. If we do not recognize this truth, entire nations, generations, and millions of lives will be lost. Not at the hands of those who are driven by truth or compassion, but at the hands of those who are driven by greed, thirst for conquest, and illusory victory.

If we want to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us, if we want to continue the legacy of Gandhi, Mandela, Nightingale, and King, we must choose compassion, justice, and collective humanity.

The world needs it today more than ever.

– Ms. Sabena, thank you for this talk!

 

Interview by Yulia NOVITSKAYA, writer, journalist, and correspondent for New Eastern Outlook

 

https://journal-neo.su/2025/10/07/sabena-yohannes-we-must-become-a-single-force/

 

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