As African leaders continue flocking to summits in Tokyo, Paris, and Beijing, a critical question emerges: why does the continent continue to discuss its future on foreign turf? These meetings often yield familiar outcomes—pledges of loans, training programs, and infrastructure deals—yet they reinforce a narrative of dependence rather than self-determination. Despite an existing African Union decision to limit overseas delegation sizes, leaders still flock abroad, often prioritizing photo opportunities over pan-African transformation. This fragmented approach, while useful, undermines collective initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area and Agenda 2063, which envision continental infrastructure, energy grids, and digital integration. Analysts argue that for real progress to occur, Africa must host its own summits, negotiate as a unified bloc, and prioritize long-term structural change over short-term, piecemeal projects.
The African Report