Africa’s Power Pivot: Strategic Ascent in a Fractured World

Ferid Belhaj

No 2445, Policy briefs on Economic Trends and Policies from Policy Center for the New South

Abstract: In 2000, The Economist dismissed Africa as the “Hopeless Continent”—a label reflecting a broader system of marginalization rooted in colonial legacy and post-Cold War neglect. This essay offers a realist reappraisal, arguing that Africa’s growing strategic relevance is not the result of benevolence, but of structural necessity. Amid a fracturing global order and the rise of transactional geopolitics under Trump 2.0’s Bessent Doctrine, Africa has become indispensable: rich in critical minerals, home to strategic digital infrastructure, and central to climate and demographic futures. Yet presence is not power. Africa’s visibility must be converted into bargaining leverage. This requires institutional depth, coordinated diplomacy, and a rejection of donor-driven dependency. From climate finance to digital governance, African states must act not as petitioners but as negotiators. Sovereignty must become operational—anchored in legal capacity, regional platforms, and control over resources, data, and standards. The African Century will not be granted. It must be forged through strategy, discipline, and the will to shape global outcomes rather than be shaped by them.

Date: 2025-06
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