At the heart of the discussions was the protection and strategic management of Africa’s vast mineral wealth resources increasingly critical to global industries, particularly in energy transition, technology, and manufacturing.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a firm call for unity, urging African nations to assert themselves collectively in managing the continent’s natural resources. He emphasized that Africa must no longer allow external powers to dictate the terms of trade or resource exploitation.

Ramaphosa warned that the current “rules-based world architecture has collapsed,” arguing that global systems meant to ensure fairness and balance have instead deepened inequality and exposed vulnerabilities for developing economies. He stressed that this reality demands a new approach to trade, mineral governance, and economic partnerships.

With developed economies increasingly dependent on Africa’s rare earth minerals, lithium, cobalt, platinum, and other critical resources, leaders at the summit highlighted the need for value addition within the continent. Rather than exporting raw materials, Africa aims to strengthen industrial capacity, refine minerals locally, and secure better trade agreements.

The summit underscored Africa’s broader ambitions: economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), strategic autonomy in global affairs, and governance reforms to strengthen institutions.

As geopolitical competition intensifies over critical minerals, Africa’s message from Addis Ababa was clear the continent intends to protect its wealth, negotiate from a position of strength, and shape its own economic future.

The Executive Council session serves as a key preparatory platform ahead of the leaders’ summit, focusing on policy coordination and strategic recommendations. Among the central issues under discussion are economic integration, intra-African trade, sustainable development goals, climate resilience, and collective security efforts amid rising regional instability.

Diplomats are also reviewing progress on flagship continental initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), infrastructure expansion, and youth empowerment programs aimed at accelerating economic transformation. Security concerns, particularly conflicts in parts of East and West Africa, are expected to feature prominently in deliberations.

The AU Commission emphasized the importance of unity and coordinated responses as Africa navigates global economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, and climate-related challenges. Ministers are expected to present their resolutions and recommendations to heads of state during the main summit session.

Our correspondent, Hillary Panashe, reporting from Addis Ababa, says discussions remain ongoing, with leaders expressing renewed commitment to strengthening continental cooperation and advancing Africa’s long term development agenda.

PRETORIA, Sept. 10, 2025 — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed the dispatch of a high level delegation to the United States, as Pretoria seeks urgent relief from new 30% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

The envoys will hold meetings in both New York and Washington, engaging with U.S. lawmakers, trade officials, and key business leaders in an effort to renegotiate terms and protect South Africa’s access to the American market.

“This mission reflects the importance of our economic partnership with the United States,” Ramaphosa said in a press briefing Tuesday. “We are committed to resolving this through diplomacy and dialogue.”

Tariffs Hit Key Sectors

The 30% tariffs, which took effect on August 7, have already impacted South Africa’s automotive and agricultural exports, which make up a significant portion of its bilateral trade with the U.S.

In 2023, U.S.–South Africa trade totalled $17.64 billion, making the United States South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China.

The sharp increase in tariffs has raised fears of:

• Job losses in export dependent industries

• Declining investor confidence

• Disruption to supply chains involving major U.S. corporations

Pretoria’s Revised Trade Proposal

In a bid to de-escalate the situation, South Africa submitted a revised trade proposal to the U.S. on August 12, just days after the tariffs were implemented.

The proposal, according to government sources, includes:

• Enhanced regulatory alignment on key products

• New bilateral cooperation mechanisms on trade compliance

• Expanded market access for American companies in South Africa

So far, U.S. officials have not publicly responded, but South African negotiators hope this week’s talks can restart stalled discussions and avoid further trade fallout.

Strategic Trade Relationship at Risk

The tension over tariffs comes at a delicate time in U.S.-Africa relations. South Africa has traditionally enjoyed preferential trade terms under AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), but recent shifts in U.S. trade policy have introduced more protectionist measures, particularly against countries running trade surpluses.

Analysts say the move may be part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reassess trade imbalances, but warn that it could backfire.

“This kind of unilateral tariff hike undermines long-standing trade partnerships and opens the door for China and other actors to fill the gap,” said one regional economist.

What Comes Next?

The South African delegation is expected to remain in the U.S. for the next 10 days. If talks fail, officials in Pretoria say they will explore regional trade diversification strategies, including closer integration with BRICS partners and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) members.

ACCRA, Sept. 10, 2025 — Ghanaian President John Mahama has strongly warned against escalating global trade tensions, declaring that “nobody wins tariff wars.” His remarks came during a Presidential Media Encounter held at the Jubilee House, where he addressed journalists on key economic issues and Ghana’s evolving role in the international trade system.

President Mahama expressed deep concern over the rise in unilateral tariffs, particularly those imposed by the United States, which he said threaten to unravel years of progress toward a rules-based global trade order.

“Trade wars only breed retaliation, market instability, and uncertainty for businesses. Nobody wins tariff wars,” Mahama stated.

AGOA Tariff Shifts Hit African Exporters

The president specifically cited the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), under which African countries like Ghana previously enjoyed zero-tariff access to U.S. markets. That advantage has now been eroded, with some exports facing tariffs as high as 15%, he noted.

“It is disheartening that African exporters are now being penalized after years of encouraging integration into global value chains,” he added.

In a striking comment, Mahama also linked the tariff hikes to systemic problems within the affected economies, saying:

“The reason for the high tariffs only means that a lot of people are not paying.”

Analysts interpreted this as a reference to challenges in tax compliance, trade transparency, or perhaps the need for revenue recovery through import levies.

Call for Market Diversification

President Mahama used the platform to urge African nations to diversify their export markets and reduce dependency on a few powerful trade partners.

“Africa must move beyond a single-market mindset. We need to strengthen intra-African trade under the AfCFTA and expand into Asia, Latin America, and other emerging markets.”

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), highlighting the opportunity it presents to build a resilient, self-reliant African economy.

The Bigger Picture

Mahama’s warning comes amid growing tensions between major economies, particularly the U.S., China, and the EU, where tariff battles and trade realignments are increasingly common. For developing nations like Ghana, the effects of such disputes can be disproportionately damaging.

Key Takeaways:

• President Mahama calls trade wars “destructive” and urges diplomacy over protectionism

• African exporters face a new 15% tariff on some goods previously covered under AGOA

• Ghana advocates for diversifying export destinations and strengthening African trade blocs

• Global shifts require Africa to adopt a proactive trade strategy

First, let’s talk potential. Africa is sitting on a goldmine—60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. That’s right, 60%! Agriculture is already 35% of our GDP, employing more Africans than any other sector. Our agricultural market is worth $280 billion today, and with the right moves, it could hit $1 trillion by 2030. Look at Ethiopia: they expanded wheat production from 50,000 hectares in 2018 to 650,000 by 2022, wiping out wheat imports and exporting to Kenya and Djibouti. That’s the Africa we all want—a continent that feeds itself and the world! But here’s the reality check. Despite this potential, one in five Africans goes to bed hungry. 140 million of us face acute food insecurity. Why? It’s systemic barriers, some homegrown, some imposed from outside.

Barriers to Food Security in Africa 

Number one: underinvestment. In 2003, African governments signed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme agreement, promising 10% of their budgets to agriculture. In 2021, the average was a measly 4.1%. Senegal’s excelling at 11%, and their sector’s thriving, but most countries are falling short. Number two: a financing gap. Africa needs $27 to $65 billion a year to transform agriculture, but banks lend just 3% of their portfolios to farming, even though it’s 29% of our GDP. High interest rates—often over 20%—and demands for collateral worth five times the loan lock out smallholder farmers, who produce 80% of our food. Mila Aziablé, Togo’s Minister of Water and Sanitation.

Then there’s the supply chain mess. Poor roads, outdated ports, and bad storage mean they lose 30% of our food imports before they even reach the market. Mechanization? Only 4-5% of our farms use modern equipment, compared to 95% in the US. Irrigation? Just 6% of our arable land, versus 70% in Asia. Add weather shocks—droughts, floods—and external disruptions like the Russia-Ukraine war, which cut 30 million metric tons from global food supplies, spiking prices. It’s a stacked deck.

The globalists and their corporations holding Africa back

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: globalists and their corporations. Are they holding Africa back? You bet they are, and the numbers don’t lie. Let’s start with land grabs. Since 2000, foreign companies—mostly from the West and Asia—have snatched up 30 million hectares of African land. That’s the size of Italy. In Mozambique, 2.7 million hectares went to agribusiness for cash crops like palm oil, not food for Africans. These deals, often backed by global institutions like the World Bank, push smallholder farmers off their land, undermining the very people feeding the nations.

Then there’s trade. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries pump $250 billion a year into agricultural subsidies, letting them flood African markets with cheap goods. Take EU poultry exports—$1.2 billion annually. They’ve crushed Ghana’s poultry industry, where local production dropped 40% between 2010 and 2020. Or US cotton subsidies, $20 billion a year, which tank global prices and hurt farmers in Mali, where cotton is 15% of GDP. These globalist trade rules, pushed by the WTO and EU agreements, keep them dependent on imports while intra-African trade—only 15% of our exports—languishes.

Seed Monopolies: 60% Controlled by Multinationals

And don’t sleep on the seed game. Global agribusiness giants like Monsanto, now Bayer, control 60% of commercial seeds in sub-Saharan Africa. Their GMO and hybrid seeds force farmers to buy new ones every year, jacking up costs.

 In Nigeria, Bt maize raised input costs by 30% for smallholders, with no guaranteed yield boost. Compare that to Vietnam, which tripled cereal yields since 1980 by investing in local inputs. We’re locked into a system that profits corporations, not farmers.

Africa has been overshadowed by colonial legacies and donor-driven policies

Willis Ochieng, Executive Director of the Centre for Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Transformation for Sustainability says reviving indigenous knowledge is key to addressing food insecurity and climate change in Africa, I don’t agree with his sentiments on Climate Change because we know it’s a hoax but Ochieng argued that Africa already possesses deep-rooted, sustainable practices, but these have been overshadowed by colonial legacies and donor-driven policies.

Then there’s debt. The IMF and World Bank’s structural adjustment programs in the ‘80s and ‘90s forced countries like Zambia to slash agricultural subsidies by 50%, leading to a 20% drop in maize production by 2000. Today, African countries spend 25% of their budgets servicing debt, starving investments in irrigation and mechanization. And let’s not forget illicit financial flows—$89 billion a year, or 3.7% of our GDP, siphoned off by multinationals through tax evasion. In the DRC, mining firms alone cost the country $1.5 billion in 2019. That’s money we could use to cut our 30% post-harvest losses.

Africa can feed itself: how to break free

So, how do we break free and feed ourselves? First, governments must invest in roads, storage, irrigation—basics that work. Senegal’s doing it; all can. Second, close the $240 billion financing gap. The African Development Bank’s $1.3 billion food production facility is a start, supporting 20 million farmers with seeds. Prof. Pascal K.T. Angui, Director General of Production and Food Security in Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Third, lean into fintech. Mobile money accounts exploded from 30 million in 2012 to 560 million in 2021, with 95% loan repayment rates. Fourth, stop the $89 billion in illicit financial flows. Tax evasion by multinationals has to end—imagine that money building storage to save our harvests. Fifth, supercharge intra-African trade through the AfCFTA and alliances that favour the African Agenda. South Africa’s Deputy Director for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Peter Ramolotja

Only 5% of our cereal imports come from within Africa—let’s change that. And finally, Ditch the Climate Change Hoax! Africa can feed itself. We’ve got the land, the people, the potential. Our yield gap is 90%—we could nearly double output with the right tools. By 2030, we could turn a $280 billion market into $1 trillion. But it starts with us—demanding accountability, redirecting capital, and telling globalists: Africa’s table is set by Africans.

Written By Tatenda Belle Panashe

The Focus Areas include Credible Elections, economic Sovereignty, Indigenous Governance Models through developing an “Afro-Democracy” that aligns with African values and realities. Youth and Digital Innovation by Harnessing Africa’s youth potential in the digital space. Key Speakers include Prof. Patrice Lumumba, Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Former AU Ambassador to the United States Amb. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas just to name a few.

ICAD: Reclaiming Africa’s Sovereignty

The pursuit of Africa’s sovereignty is not merely a political aspiration but a radical reimagining of economic, cultural, and political systems to centre African agency, dignity, and self-determination. The legacy of colonialism and the ongoing neocolonial structures—manifested through exploitative trade systems, foreign aid dependency, and Western-dominated financial institutions—have entrenched Africa’s structural dependency, sapping the continent’s ability to chart its own destiny. Reclaiming sovereignty demands dismantling these systems through Afrocentric policies and actions that prioritize African solutions, rooted in the principles of Pan-Africanism, self-reliance, and resistance to globalist agendas that perpetuate Western dominance.

The Roots of Structural Dependency

The Scramble for Africa in the late 19th century, formalized at the 1884 Berlin Conference, carved the continent into artificial boundaries, prioritizing European economic interests over African social and political realities. This colonial framework reorganized African economies to serve as extractive hubs for raw materials, feeding Europe’s Industrial Revolution while dismantling indigenous systems of governance, trade, and cultural cohesion. Post-independence, the promise of liberation was undermined by neocolonial mechanisms—structural adjustment programs (SAPs) imposed by the IMF and World Bank, conditional aid, and trade agreements that locked African nations into exporting primary commodities while importing manufactured goods at unfavourable terms. These policies entrenched a dependency culture, where African economies remained tethered to Western markets and institutions. For instance, the reliance on cash crops and natural resources priced by the West, a colonial legacy, continues to limit economic diversification, leaving nations vulnerable to global price fluctuations. Foreign aid, often tied to political and economic reforms aligned with Western liberal ideologies, has further eroded sovereignty by imposing external governance models that clash with African communal values and realities. This dynamic has fostered a cycle of debt, poverty, and political instability, with 72% of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s population living on less than $1.90 a day in 2018, despite its vast mineral wealth. Zimbabwe-born public speaker Joshua Maponga explains where true power lies: The economy. Without control of it, it would be misguided to claim sovereignty.

Reclaiming Africa’s Sovereignty through Economic Diversification and Industrialization

Reclaiming Africa’s sovereignty requires a paradigm shift toward Reclaiming Africa’s sovereignty requires a paradigm shift toward Afrocentric policies that prioritize local agency, cultural identity, and economic self-sufficiency.  Afrocentricity, as a framework, positions Africans as agents of their own history, rejecting the Eurocentric lens that has long defined development. Key strategies include Economic Diversification and Industrialization: African nations must move beyond primary commodity exports by investing in value-added industries. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2018, offers a framework for intra-African trade, reducing reliance on external markets. By fostering regional supply chains and processing raw materials locally, Africa can retain wealth and create jobs.

Reclaiming Africa’s Sovereignty through Repossessing Financial Systems

Western-dominated institutions like the IMF and World Bank have imposed neoliberal policies that prioritize market liberalization over African priorities. Establishing African-led financial institutions, such as an expanded African Development Bank (AfDB), can provide funding free from external conditionalities. Additionally, leveraging local capital markets and mobilizing domestic savings can reduce dependence on foreign loans.

Reclaiming Africa’s Sovereignty through Decolonizing Governance

Afrocentric governance models should draw on pre-colonial communal systems, which emphasized collective responsibility and accountability. The Afrocentric school argues that traditional African leaders operated with a communal spirit, minimizing corruption—a stark contrast to the extractive colonial systems that persist in post-colonial governance. Policies must prioritize human-centered development, focusing on basic needs like food security, healthcare, and education, rather than Western-imposed liberal democratic frameworks.

Anti-Colonial and Anti-Globalist Finance

As an anti-globalist finance advocate, I reject the notion that Africa’s development must conform to Western capitalist models. Globalist finance, driven by institutions like the IMF, prioritizes profit over people, perpetuating a system where African resources enrich foreign corporations while local populations languish. For example, China’s growing influence—while less conditional than Western aid—often prioritizes Chinese interests, with $300 billion in trade in 2023 dwarfing U.S.-Africa trade. An anti-colonial financial strategy demands Sovereign Wealth Fund. African nations with resource wealth, like Nigeria or Angola, should establish sovereign wealth funds to reinvest resource revenues into infrastructure, education, and technology, rather than allowing profits to be siphoned offshore. Then rejecting Tied Aid. Conditional aid often serves as a neocolonial tool, dictating policy and undermining sovereignty. African governments must negotiate aid on their terms or reject it outright, prioritizing partnerships that respect territorial integrity. To counter the dominance of Western currencies like the dollar and euro, African nations could explore regional or strengthening their currencies to facilitate intra-African trade and reduce exposure to global financial volatility.

Written By Tatenda Belle Panashe