Opinions

By forming an OPEC-style alliance for critical minerals, African nations could boost their bargaining power with global powers like the US—while channeling mineral revenues to diversify their economies and drive their own clean energy transitions. Critical minerals, especially rare earths, have become an integral part of national security strategies and…

Ethiopia’s long-anticipated entry into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) marks not only a national milestone but also a continental turning point—advancing Africa’s quest for deeper integration, industrialisation, and inclusive economic growth. The launch of Ethiopia’s first shipment under the AfCFTA Ethiopia has completed the final procedural steps to…

Ethiopia’s commencement of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) marks a historic step for the Horn of Africa nation—and a significant boost for Africa’s collective drive toward economic integration, industrialization, and inclusive growth. Ethiopia has long been an active participant in shaping international institutions that govern political,…

With vast solar resources and a rapidly growing population, Africa has the potential for a green and inclusive transition—but realizing it requires closing a $2.8 trillion financing gap through greater international support for African-led initiatives. The postwar global development system has been dramatically altered – a source of conversation and…

Africa’s path to true development requires reimagining a multilateral order that replaces extractive, profit-driven systems with one grounded in care, equity, and collective dignity. As summer has drawn to a close in the northern hemisphere, the Global South’s brief respite from United Nations meetings and international conferences has also ended.…

A recent project connecting thousands of Nigerian homes and businesses to solar power shows how modest investments can drive transformative clean energy gains across the developing world—success made possible through public, private, and philanthropic partners working toward a shared goal. In Kiguna, a rural community in Nigeria, the fish trader…

Proven, sustainable, and inclusive, distributed renewable energy is lighting up Malawi’s path to growth—unlocking opportunities for education, enterprise, and a model for rural nations across the Global South. Like many African countries, Malawi faces significant energy-access challenges. In 2024, just 26% of the population had regular access to electricity – 11.3% via…

Trump’s tariffs threaten African exports and stability, underscoring the need for collective bargaining with the US and stronger ties with emerging powers.  US President Donald Trump’s misnamed “reciprocal” tariffs represent a major shift in American trade policy, replacing the multilateral approach that has guided US strategy for decades with a…

Africa’s green mineral wealth is key to global decarbonization, but to avoid unequal terms and limited value addition, a U.S.-Africa supply chain must ensure both climate goals and the continent’s prosperity, dignity, and sovereignty. Introduction The global transition to cleaner energy is triggering a seismic shift in mineral geopolitics. Critical…

As the global order shifts, Africa risks being cast as a guest at its own table when summits are held in foreign capitals—turning partnership from equality into ritualized dependence. Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan walks to the lectern to deliver her speech at the opening ceremony of the ninth Forum…