MWE Correspondent
Tanzania is urging African nations to make the most of a historic opportunity: the G20 Summit 2025, which will be hosted by South Africa, the first sub-Saharan country to lead the influential global forum.
This call came from Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, during the 47th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Ambassador Kombo highlighted that with Africa under the global spotlight in 2025, the time is now for the continent to speak with one voice. He called on fellow African Union member states to align their priorities and use the G20 platform to push for fairer policies that benefit developing economies.
“This summit is more than symbolic—it’s a chance for Africa to shape global decisions,” Kombo said. “Let’s not wait for change. Let’s lead it.”
He listed several urgent priorities that African leaders should unite around:
- Debt relief and more flexible restructuring for vulnerable economies
- Reform of global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank
- Accelerated investment in infrastructure and trade corridors
- Stronger climate adaptation financing and support for nations facing severe climate change impacts
- Economic diversification to reduce dependency on raw exports
He also called for full implementation of the African Union’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and deeper commitment to Agenda 2063—Africa’s blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Ambassador Kombo met with Ethiopia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Hadera Admassu. The two diplomats discussed strengthening ties in areas such as:
- Bilateral trade
- Security cooperation in the Horn of Africa and East Africa
- Expansion of air transport links between Addis Ababa and Dar es Salaam
- Collaboration on environmental protection and reforestation campaigns
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is a regional hub for diplomacy and hosts the headquarters of the African Union Commission (AUC), making Ethiopia a strategic partner for regional integration efforts.
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During the AU meeting, AU Executive Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf raised serious concerns about ongoing instability in several parts of the continent—including the Sudan conflict, violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and across the Sahel.
Youssouf noted that these conflicts continue to divert vital resources and attention away from Africa’s broader development goals. He also urged countries to increase their voluntary contributions to AU programs to reduce overdependence on external aid and ensure African-led solutions to African challenges.
The theme of the AU’s 2025 agenda—“Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”—was also reiterated during the session. Leaders called for a renewed push for reparative justice and recognition of Africa’s historical grievances, particularly relating to colonization and the transatlantic slave trade.
As preparations for the G20 2025 Summit begin, Tanzania’s call serves as a timely reminder that Africa’s future lies in strategic unity and global engagement.
For many African nations, the summit will be a test of whether the continent can not only participate—but lead—global conversations on economics, security, justice, and sustainability.
