By Esther Edoh
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged African nations to accelerate efforts toward self-dependency and resilience, citing the economic policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump as a stark reminder of the continent’s need for greater autonomy. Kagame made the remarks during a high-level panel discussion on the opening day of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan on May 12th.
The annual forum, themed “Africa in a Transactional World: Can a New Deal between State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?”, brought together over 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and the globe.
During the panel, which also featured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Kagame emphasized the importance of proactive planning rather than reactive responses. “We should have been building momentum in terms of what we need to do to make Africa self-dependent and resilient, and how Africa works with other continents and countries,” he stated. He suggested that unpredictable global events, like Trump’s economic decisions, serve as catalysts for African nations to take control of their own development.
Kagame lamented the persistent reliance on external aid, arguing that it undermines the continent’s potential for self-sufficiency. “There is a mentality out there on our continent that somebody is going to foot the bill of our development, and that has undermined our efforts to contribute as much as we can for our own development,” he said.
Drawing on his experience as a champion of African Union reforms, Kagame expressed frustration at the slow implementation of agreed-upon policies designed to foster regional economic development. He criticized the bureaucratic hurdles hindering progress and urged for a more proactive and less reliant approach to development.
“That is so harsh to us that we need to do certain things certain ways without expecting that somebody will always be kind to us, and that’s what we will depend on forever,” Kagame declared.
President Ghazouani of Mauritania echoed the sentiment of prioritizing internal resources, highlighting the crucial role of the private sector in driving national development. “Our economic and social development can be increased through a dynamic private sector with more ambition and commitment to public action,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President, Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, stressed the importance of good governance in creating a conducive environment for private sector growth and in effectively implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Kagame’s call for self-reliance underscores a growing movement within Africa to take greater control of its economic destiny, moving beyond reliance on foreign aid and embracing intra-African trade and investment opportunities. The Africa CEO Forum serves as a vital platform for fostering these discussions and driving collaboration between the public and private sectors.
