This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
As dozens of African leaders converge on the Russian resort city of Sochi next week for the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit, the continent is at a crossroads. The event marks a significant shift in the global landscape, with Africa poised to play a crucial role in the new scramble for the continent.
Since the Berlin Conference of 1884, Africa has been carved up and pillaged by global powers. The continent's rich resources have been exploited, leaving it with a legacy of economic subjugation. However, the Sochi meeting presents an opportunity for Africa to break free from this cycle and forge a new path.
For too long, Africa has been seen as a repository of strategic metals and minerals, with little regard for the continent's own development. The traditional aid packages offered by countries like China, Japan, and Russia may seem tempting, but they do little to address the fundamental imbalance in the economic relationship between Africa and its international partners.
Africa must change its self-perception and see itself as the custodian of the future. With a growing population and a young workforce, the continent has the potential to drive global growth and development. By 2030, one in every four people on earth will be an African, presenting interesting implications for labour and markets.
However, this shift also comes with risks. Upsetting the current order and vested interests will require courage and vision from Africa itself, as well as a moral movement in the West that demands fairness and consent in dealings with the continent. An open and transparent market in Africa's natural resources is a tantalising possibility, but it will require Africa to think and play smart.
