A fresh global framework is taking shape. The United States is not the only nation determining international affairs anymore; nations such as China, Russia, India, and those from the Gulf region are becoming increasingly powerful.
This change has escalated worldwide rivalry and complicated international collaboration. In the present era, power rather than regulations dictates the course of global matters.
What is Africa’s position? Based on our research, we contend that the continent needs to embrace a practical approach encompassing two key aspects. Firstly, pinpointing matters appropriate for collaborative efforts, including climate diplomacy and securing a place at the United Nations Security Council. Secondly, acknowledging areas where localized or national policies are more pertinent, such as addressing regional disputes and negotiating trade deals.
We suggest this method due to the fact that Africa is neither a unified nation nor a singular supranational organization. Thus, an overarching strategy would be unfeasible. Our recommendation instead acknowledges that certain matters might be more effectively addressed collaboratively, whereas others could necessitate either regional cooperation or individual national efforts.
Fresh principles are required. Nations might jointly embrace concepts akin to a “doctrine,” such as the Lagos Plan of Action from 1980 to 2000. This initiative sets forth an ambitious aim to enhance Africa’s autonomy via growth and economic unification. Additionally, the Declaration of Monrovia in 1973 stressed the importance of collaborative self-sufficiency.
This represented Africa’s input to the requests for a fresh global economic framework following the conclusion of World War II. Although these documents were crafted based on the realities of their era, they could provide guidance for formulating a new approach that mirrors the evolving contemporary world order.
The Monroe and Truman doctrines delineated ways for the U.S. to assert its worldwide supremacy. Each underscores the importance of clear-cut principles in shaping strategic approaches.
African nations might embrace a fresh approach outlining how the continent can strengthen its role within the evolving global landscape. This framework would offer a chance for African states to formulate a distinct and consistent plan aimed at productive interaction, acknowledging both the advantages and constraints presented by this new international setup.
It must also recognize the challenge of bringing together various nations within the continent. This can be achieved by leveraging the principles and history of the Lagos and Monrovia strategies.
Significant transformations in geoeconomics, which intertwines security and economic factors with geopolitical dynamics, are remolding Africa’s landscape.
There are concerns regarding the potential withdrawal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act by the current US administration. This act provides African nations with advantageous entry into the US market.
In turn, African nations initiated the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in 2018 with the aim of fostering a single market across the continent and decreasing reliance on the worldwide economic framework.
However, Africa’s bold trade initiatives confront challenges stemming not only from worldwide changes but also from within. The Trump administration, for instance, imposed steep tariffs on nearly every trading partner, encompassing nations across Africa. Among these, Lesotho was subjected to the most substantial tariff rate—50% against all U.S. trading counterparts. Such measures could undermine beneficial entry arrangements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Other significant economic powers like the European Union and China are likewise looking into possibilities for entering into individual trade agreements with African nations. Such moves have the potential to weaken the objective of establishing a single, all-encompassing continental marketplace.
The internal situation within the continent remains unstable. Following Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2024 to establish the Alliance of Sahelian States, many analysts pointed fingers at regional unrest as the cause. Nonetheless, we contend that this split signals the boundaries of effective integration.
The establishment of the Alliance for Sahel States as primarily a security agreement, instead of an economically integrated union, underscores how severe threats can reshape regional cohesion. In vulnerable countries, ensuring political stability is crucial before pursuing economic integration. These nations prioritize security policies over economic ones due to their precarious conditions.
Similarly, these issues also emerge in climate diplomacy. The nations of Africa, having played a minimal role in contributing to global climate change, find themselves under pressure to take on more responsibilities without much backing from the international community. Nonetheless, they persistently face severe consequences as the effects of climate change intensify.
Meanwhile, African countries have garnered minimal international assistance required for tackling climate issues. This aid encompasses climate financing, technology sharing, and skill development.
African policy makers have innovatively made their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement contingent upon international assistance in financing, technology transfer, and capacity building. They emphasize that efforts aimed at tackling climate change must also advance the wider objectives of sustainable development.
In our recent publication, we contend that this strategy enables Africa to advance sustainable growth while supporting international climate initiatives. Additionally, it syncs with the continent’s historical focus on the developmental facets of environmental policy.
The proposed approach is a straightforward and practical idea: African nations should collaborate on certain matters while handling other issues independently.
In contrast to typical African stances taken via the African Union, this strategy explicitly defines instances where collaboration works best and situations where nations ought to pursue independent courses. It provides distinct guidelines, including the necessity for adaptability in cooperative efforts versus unilateral measures when reaching an agreement proves impossible. Such clarity could act as a template for upcoming policy decisions and assist in harmonizing Africa’s diplomatic endeavors.
It offers multiple benefits: it is easy and uncomplicated, acknowledges individual country distinctions whilst promoting collaboration, and amplifies Africa’s presence and influence internationally.
The primary difficulty lies in ensuring that all nations concur with the level of flexibility needed to strike a balance between reaching a collective agreement and allowing individual African countries to act independently.
However, the approach would recognize the necessity of adaptability to reconcile Africa’s aspiration for increased international prominence with the constraints imposed by both global conditions and internal circumstances.
Anticipating As the globe adapts to a new international framework where cooperation among multiple nations is waning and geopolitical strategies reign supreme, Africa has the chance to capitalize on openings to influence worldwide matters and safeguard its shared policy objectives. Achieving this could be facilitated via its position within the G20.
However, it necessitates a well-defined and logical plan.
Kennedy Mbeva serves as a research associate at the University of Cambridge, whereas Reuben Makomere works as a university research associate at the University of Tasmania. This information is provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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