Over the past 5 years I have been advocating unification and industrialisation of Africa. During this time I have had the pleasure of interacting with several African business and political leaders from Tanzania,Kenya,Nigeria, South Africa,Uganda,Egypt,Sudan,Malawi,Liberia and more who share this vision. Africa is one of the largest contiguous land masses on the planet,with one of the world's youngest populations, an immense coastline ,deserts, mineral resources and arable land.
Its location provides it with supreme geopolitical advantage that can potentially project it's influence over all of Asia and the EU. Yet historical factors combined with present economic conditions has not only prevented Africa from actualising its potential but has also made it entirely dependent upon developed nations to satisfy the demands of modern nation states.
Predictably what we have seen in Africa is a continuation of extractive economics where African states supply raw materials and import finished products. Capturing only a tiny fraction of economic value and also unable to move up the value chain to at least be able to satisfy their own demands. During my interactions, most of the African delegates I met with , seemed to agree and recognised that it's important for Africa to remove barriers to movements of goods and people within the continent as a first step towards exercising control.
Yet this “soft unity”, while it prevents foreign corporations from political maneuvering to gain advantage, it does little to actually drive Africa forward.
Watching the live stream of Unstoppable Africa Summit a couple of days ago, I was therefore delighted to learn that one of the central points of discussion was for Africa to move up the value chain. Instead of being just a supplier of raw materials the ambition this time was much bigger — to develop products in Africa.
More importantly though, UN Secretary-General António Guterres himself emphasized this point and noted that for a just transition to green energy and manufacturing it would be important for nations to be able to process and develop their own natural resources that are actually enabling this transition. A sentiment that was echoed earlier by UNGA President Annalena Baerbock. Clearly there is unanimity at the UN that this needs to happen.
But at the moment all of it is just talk. How can Africa make this a reality? One of the big problems with industrialisation is that private corporations are not willing to simply hand out technology/trade secrets that enabled them to become market leaders in the first place. Africa can trade labour and resources and maybe incentivise industries but that's not going to make them technologically independent.
Unconventional methods must be used. Leveraging Africa as a market for goods could be a viable strategy,India is doing the same and hoping to use that market power to bargain for tech.
On the partnerships front Africa has done reasonably well. Some very high profile companies like starlink have expanded its presence. It's space sector as well as energy sector are growing steadily and these are encouraging signs but not enough to propel it towards industrialisation.
North-Africa Mediterranean relationship could open up new economic pathways and possibility of joint research and development. East EU nations may be more amenable to equitable partnership than west EU but pragmatism would pull foreign policy towards the developed nations and with them there is little room for negotiation.
If we look at industrialisation history of other developing countries like Japan ,South Korea ,Singapore,India and China all of them have had to make significant concessions to gain access to technologies. All of these economies are powered essentially on US tech. It's not difficult to predict what Africa will have to do if it goes the same route.
Economic conditions will compel Africa to engage in trade that is uneven and right now the focus might be to close the economic gap. That's important. Equally important would be to realise that unless Africa sets up its own invention pipeline it will be a long never ending game of playing catch-up.
Innovation never stops. Things are always changing. It is far easier to leap than level. African states need to find a way to have that one breakthrough innovation that can help create industrial clusters around it. The advantage that Africa has is that different states can try out different verticals — tourism,energy,space,medicine,electronics,heavy engineering and see what works. But that's only possible when deliberate action is taken to ensure that the invention’s value is maximally captured — i.e as much of the supporting tools and services required to make it work are available in house. Soft African unity ,a “United states of Africa” , could make political transformation happen but it still must be followed by a technological transformation.
The US history has proven that it's possible. The US revolutions were initially funded by foreign powers. The founding fathers were seeking investment from France ,Netherlands during the early years of USA .For over a century US tried to level with EU, it was only after the civil war that the US imagination was truly unleashed.
Then there was electricity,aircraft,automobiles and semiconductors.
That was nearly 200 years ago when Americans chose to rise above their circumstances and manifest their destiny. It remains one of the most stunning transformations in the history. A rags to riches story and an everlasting inspiration of what is possible with self belief. What changed? Scholars of history have a multitude of opinions. But a key moment in American history was introduction of the concept of “self reliance” by Emerson that urged Americans to stop looking up to Europe for support and instead take it upon themselves to drive the change they want to see.This is what Africa needs. A transformation of will to action.
“Cast the bantling on the rocks,
Suckle him with the she-wolf's teat
Wintered with the hawk and fox,
Power and speed be hands and feet.“
~Emerson,Self Reliance
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