The notion that "everyone has a plan for Africa, except Africa" has sparked debate about the continent's ability to drive its own development. However, this statement may be misleading, as Africa has numerous declarations, protocols, strategies, and institutions in place to address various development challenges. The African Union, African Continental Free Trade Area, African Development Bank, and Regional Economic Communities are just a few examples of the frameworks aimed at promoting economic growth and cooperation.
The real question is not why others have plans for Africa, but whether Africa possesses sufficient collective agency to engage those plans from the standpoint of clearly articulated African interests. It is natural for other countries and regions to design their engagement with Africa around their own strategic, economic, and geopolitical priorities. However, Africa must have a clear plan that other initiatives can fit into, rather than being driven by external agendas.
The Pan-African project, which aimed to promote African self-determination and unity, appears to have lost momentum. The early Pan-African idea was not just an emotional appeal to racial or continental solidarity, but an argument about agency and the need for Africans to determine their own socioeconomic and political development. However, many of the early believers who articulated these visions were removed, undermined, or isolated, often with the complicity of fellow Africans and external interests.
Africa's future will not be determined primarily by speeches about African unity, but by whether African governments and institutions can translate collective ambitions into the everyday infrastructure of development. This includes functioning transport corridors, interoperable payment systems, efficient borders, productive industries, reliable energy, skilled labor, and deeper financial markets. The Pan-African project must confront its internal weaknesses and focus on building domestic capabilities.
One of the major challenges facing Africa is the lack of collective conviction, effective coordination, and sustained implementation. Despite having numerous plans and frameworks, the continent struggles to translate these into tangible results. This is partly due to the fragmentation within Africa itself, as countries often prioritize their narrowly defined national interests over continental aspirations.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, but its success depends on the ability of African governments and institutions to implement it effectively. This requires strong national institutions, productive economies, efficient infrastructure, and functioning domestic markets. Continental capability cannot exist independently of capable states, and the work must begin within individual countries.
Ultimately, Africa's development will depend on its ability to balance self-discovery with policy learning, adaptation, and knowledge transfer from elsewhere. The importance of self-discovery in building domestic capabilities cannot be overstated. By focusing on its internal weaknesses and building collective conviction, coordination, and implementation, Africa can drive its own development and ensure that external plans align with its own interests.
Key points
- Africa has numerous plans and frameworks but struggles with collective conviction, coordination, and implementation.
- The Pan-African project must confront its internal weaknesses and focus on building domestic capabilities.
- Africa's development depends on balancing self-discovery with policy learning, adaptation, and knowledge transfer from elsewhere.
