The 81st United Nations General Assembly has brought the world together, with Africa making a strong case for greater representation in global institutions, increased development finance, climate finance, investment, fairer trade, and more value from its natural resources. These conversations are crucial, but a bigger question lingers: what does African agency actually mean? The phrase is often used in international relations, diplomacy, and development, but its practical implications are unclear.
For a long time, Africa's international economic story has been told through its needs, including investment, infrastructure, financing, technology, and access to markets. While these needs are real, Africa also possesses critical resources the rest of the world needs, such as critical minerals, energy resources, agricultural potential, land, biodiversity, strategic trade routes, a young and growing population, and a market of over a billion people.
The concept of African agency starts with a shift in how Africa's place in the global economy is perceived. It's not just about attracting the rest of the world but also about shaping the terms of engagement. A prime example is critical minerals, which are in high demand due to the global energy transition. Africa holds a significant share of these resources, with Namibia being a key player in this conversation.
Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been engaging on investment, mixed energy, and critical minerals at the UN, emphasizing Namibia's interest in moving beyond raw-material exports towards processing, value addition, and industrial development. This approach is a different economic proposition, as it makes Africa a participant in the value chain rather than just a supplier.
The distinction between being a supplier and a participant in the value chain is at the heart of industrialization. Africa cannot industrialize on other people's terms and needs to determine its own path. This doesn't mean rejecting foreign investment; instead, Africa needs capital, technology, expertise, infrastructure, and access to global markets, while ensuring partnership terms are fair.
The African Union has long argued for industrialization and commodities strategies that promote moving from raw material supply towards value addition, local content, diversification, and stronger African participation in global value chains. The question remains whether Africa can move from recognizing the problem to changing the structure and implementing these strategies.
As Africa continues to push for greater representation and fairer trade, the conversation around African agency will only intensify. The continent's ability to shape the terms of engagement and determine its own economic path will be crucial in the years to come. With the right approach, Africa can unlock its full potential and become a major player in the global economy.
Key points
- African agency means shaping the terms of engagement in the global economy.
- Africa needs to move beyond raw-material exports towards processing, value addition, and industrial development.
- Partnership terms must be fair, allowing Africa to determine its own path to industrialization.
