Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE world is shifting. Old powers are retreating into isolationism, multilateralism is under siege and globalisation’s future looks nothing like its past. Amid this geo-political reordering, Africa stands at a crossroads.
It can either continue as a spectator in global affairs and blame the past, tethered to outdated alliances and extractive economic models or it can claim its seat at the table as a formidable actor with its own agenda.
To do so, Africa must first confront the uncomfortable truth that political independence has not translated to true sovereignty. Most African economies remain tied to global systems that keep them at the bottom of the value chain.
The continent exports raw minerals and crops and import finished products at inflated prices. The time for being the jungle source of raw materials and the consumer of poor-quality global products should end.
This is not just inefficiency; it is a form of modern exploitation. The only way forward is to industrialise, not in the image of the West or East, but in ways that reflect African realities and priorities. Processing what Africa produces, building regional supply chains and supporting Africa-owned enterprises are longer aspirational; they are urgent.
Equally urgent is the need for unity and integration. Africa’s greatest weakness on the global stage is fragmentation. Whether negotiating climate deals, trade terms or digital governance, African countries often act alone and are treated accordingly. But when Africa speaks with one voice, it can no longer be ignored. But again, it is time to ask if all these borders are necessary. If Zambia and Zimbabwe unite, the Zambezi River ceases to be a border and becomes a national asset. So are so many other natural resources that sit at borders.
The African Union should be more than a bureaucratic club; it should be the engine of a new pan-African assertiveness. It must stop depending on external donor funding for its operations. Securing a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is just the beginning. Africa must set up favourable continental trading conditions among its members, demand structural reforms in global financial institutions, advocate for a fairer climate financing architecture and shape digital regulations protecting its people and data.
However, none of this will matter if Africa continues to outsource its thinking. Too many policy prescriptions on the continent come from consultants, donors and foreign think tanks. This must end. Decolonising African governance means elevating homegrown expertise, reviving indigenous knowledge systems and designing institutions that reflect who we are, not who we are told to be. Africa does not lack wisdom; it lacks the confidence and political will to trust its own.
If there is one undeniable advantage Africa holds, it is its people. With a median age of under 20, Africa is the youngest continent on earth. But demography is not destiny. If we fail to equip our youth with quality education, digital skills and opportunities to innovate, this demographic dividend will become a demographic crisis. The continent’s leaders must stop paying lip service to youth empowerment and start treating it as a national security and economic imperative.
At the same time, Africa must learn to navigate the new global chessboard with clarity. The scramble for Africa is back, this time cloaked in infrastructure deals, digital connectivity and climate finance. From Washington to Beijing, from Brussels to Riyadh, global powers are angling for influence.
But Africa must move beyond dependency on any single partner. Non-aligned pragmatism, rooted in our interests, not their ideologies, is the smartest path forward. Engagement must be transactional, not deferential. What are we getting in return? Who controls the technology? Where are jobs being created?
Pan-Africanism, often dismissed as nostalgia, may be the only real shot at surviving the turbulence of this new era. Integration is no longer optional. The African Continental Free Trade Area must be fast-tracked. Borders must become bridges, not barriers. The free movement of goods, people and ideas is the only way to build resilience and relevance in a world where scale matters more than sentiment.
And then there is the story Africa tells about itself — or rather, the story others continue to tell on its behalf. It is time to reclaim the African narrative. Africa is not a land of lack, but a continent of abundance — of culture, resilience, creativity, and ambition. From Nollywood to Nairobi’s Silicon Savannah, from Dakar’s fashion runways to Kigali’s drone-powered healthcare, Africa is already shaping the future. But until Africans own their story, they will remain footnotes in someone else’s chapter.
The global order is cracking. Empires are crumbling. New ones are forming. In this moment of rupture, Africa must not wait for permission to rise. Africans must act with vision, unity and unshakable belief in their right to determine their future. The world will not hand them power. Africans must take it together.
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