MWE Correspondent
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has delivered a strong and carefully worded message on Africa’s position in the global system, calling on the continent to move decisively away from dependency and toward leverage, ownership and genuine self-determination.
Her remarks come at a time when Africa is increasingly central to global discussions on trade, critical minerals, energy security and long-term strategic partnerships.
Speaking during a high-level engagement focused on Africa’s economic future, the president argued that the continent must redefine how it relates with global powers. She said Africa should no longer approach negotiations from a position of vulnerability or appeal for sympathy, but instead assert its value and negotiate as an equal partner with clear interests and priorities.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that Africa’s vast natural resources, youthful population and growing markets give it real bargaining power. However, she noted that this potential has too often been undermined by weak negotiating frameworks, fragmented positions and overreliance on external actors. According to her, the challenge for African leaders is not the absence of opportunity, but the failure to fully convert opportunity into long-term benefits for their people.
Her message resonated strongly as global competition for Africa’s minerals intensifies, particularly those critical for renewable energy technologies, digital infrastructure and industrial manufacturing. She warned that without strategic coordination, African countries risk repeating historical patterns where raw materials are extracted with limited local value addition, leaving economies exposed and communities underdeveloped.
The president also highlighted the importance of economic sovereignty, urging African nations to invest more heavily in local processing, skills development and regional value chains. She said true independence would only be achieved when African economies are able to control how their resources are used, priced and traded within the global system.
On trade, President Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to the need for Africa to strengthen intra-continental commerce, arguing that deeper cooperation among African states would enhance bargaining power on the global stage. She described regional integration as a strategic tool that could reduce dependence on external markets while boosting resilience against global economic shocks. In this context, she referenced broader continental efforts such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to create a single African market.
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Energy security was another key focus of her remarks. She noted that Africa holds significant energy potential, ranging from fossil fuels to renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, she cautioned that partnerships in the energy sector must be structured to support sustainable development rather than deepen inequality or environmental harm. She called for transparent agreements that prioritize local communities and long-term national interests.
Observers say the president’s message reflects a broader shift in African political thinking, where leaders are increasingly vocal about asserting the continent’s agency in global affairs. Analysts argue that Africa’s growing relevance in supply chains, geopolitics and climate transitions gives it an unprecedented opportunity to reset relationships with traditional and emerging partners.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded by urging African leaders to speak with confidence and unity, saying the era of negotiating from weakness must come to an end. She stressed that Africa’s future depends on bold leadership, strategic clarity and the willingness to insist on fair terms in all international engagements.
Her remarks have since been widely interpreted as a call for a new African posture in global diplomacy—one rooted in strength, cooperation and self-belief. As debates around Africa’s role in the world economy continue to evolve, her message adds momentum to a growing continental push for ownership, dignity and lasting prosperity, while reinforcing Africa’s determination to shape its own destiny within the global order.
