MWE Correspondent
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called on African nations to move beyond merely analysing global crises and instead unite around decisive action to confront rapidly shifting economic and political realities shaping the world order.
Speaking during the opening of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, Kagame warned that Africa risks falling further behind if leaders fail to transform the continent’s vast natural and human resources into coordinated economic power.
The high-level summit brought together more than 2,800 participants from over 70 countries, including heads of state, business executives, policymakers, and international investors, making it one of the continent’s largest economic gatherings.
Kagame said Africa possesses enormous strategic advantages, including abundant solar energy potential, critical minerals essential for global technology industries, and one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations. Despite those advantages, he argued, the continent continues to lag economically because of limited implementation, fragmented policies, and insufficient regional cooperation.
“We must learn and take action that enables us to respond to these crises for our own benefit,” Kagame told delegates, emphasizing that Africa should position itself as an active global player rather than a passive observer of international conflicts and economic disruptions.
The Rwandan leader stressed that ongoing geopolitical tensions, shifting trade alliances, and global economic uncertainty present both risks and opportunities for Africa. He urged governments and private sector leaders to accelerate industrialisation, strengthen intra-African trade, and invest in innovation-driven growth capable of reducing dependence on foreign markets.
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The forum was also attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside senior executives from multinational corporations and financial institutions seeking greater engagement with African markets.
Observers say Kagame’s remarks reflect a broader shift among African leaders increasingly advocating for economic sovereignty, regional integration, and stronger control over the continent’s strategic resources at a time of intensifying global competition.
The discussions in Kigali come as Africa faces mounting pressure to respond to challenges ranging from debt burdens and climate change to supply chain disruptions and global competition over rare earth minerals and energy resources.
Analysts note that Africa’s growing population and expanding consumer markets could position the continent as one of the world’s most important economic frontiers in coming decades if governments succeed in implementing coordinated reforms and infrastructure development.
The Africa CEO Forum has increasingly become a major platform for debates over investment, industrial transformation, digital innovation, and the future role of Africa in the global economy.
