Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has emphasized the need for stronger economic cooperation and integration among African countries to navigate growing geopolitical and economic pressures. He made these remarks during a keynote address at the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum in El Alamein, Egypt, on the sidelines of the 8th Mid-Year Co-ordination meeting of the African Union. The forum brings together political leaders and private sector representatives to discuss Africa's economic trajectory.
Mudavadi stressed that Africa must develop partnerships, policies, and projects capable of translating the African Union's Agenda 2063 into tangible economic outcomes for its people. He noted that the global economy is undergoing structural realignment, with implications for Africa, including the Middle East crisis, conflicts on the continent, disruptions at vital trade chokepoints, rising protectionism, and trade tensions. These developments call for collective economic responses from African countries.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary identified financial fragmentation as one of the challenges limiting Africa's economic potential. He stated that the continent continues to have a highly fragmented and geographically concentrated financial system, which constrains efficient cross-border capital flows. Mudavadi emphasized that regional financial integration is essential to unlock capital flows, strengthen economic linkages, and reduce disparities.
Mudavadi called on the private sector to work with African governments to unlock trade and deepen economic integration across the continent. He noted that Kenya remains committed to regional and continental integration, particularly through accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). President William Ruto's role as Chair of the Assembly Committee on AfCFTA Implementation underlines Kenya's commitment to advancing continental trade integration.
Mudavadi also highlighted infrastructure and logistics connectivity as major constraints to efficient trade flows across Africa. He emphasized that the active participation of the private sector is essential to advancing regional and continental infrastructure and logistics connectivity. The Prime Cabinet Secretary pointed to the recent groundbreaking of the East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, as an example of an African-led project aimed at addressing Africa's economic needs.
The East Africa Oil Refinery, backed by the Dangote Group, is expected to serve East Africa and beyond, generating potential benefits including regional energy security, value addition, industrialization, and job creation. Mudavadi described the refinery as an example of Africa developing solutions to meet its own needs, demonstrating the continent's growing capacity to provide African solutions to African problems.
Mudavadi urged African countries to address physical and regulatory barriers to trade while supporting the emergence of continental companies and projects capable of competing globally. He called for structural and institutional reforms to maximize the benefits of Africa's resources and capabilities. The Prime Cabinet Secretary expressed hope that the outcomes of the Alamein Africa Forum would contribute to deliberations at the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting and advance the continent's broader economic integration agenda.
Key points
- Mudavadi calls for stronger economic co-operation and integration among African countries.
- Africa must develop partnerships, policies, and projects to translate the African Union's Agenda 2063 into tangible economic outcomes.
- Mudavadi emphasizes the need for regional financial integration to unlock capital flows and strengthen economic linkages.
