Upcoming AUC Leaders Bear Huge Responsibility to Unlocking Africa's Potential

Upcoming AUC Leaders Bear Huge Responsibility to Unlocking Africa's Potential

Africa is home for about 1.4 billion people. Among other enormous prospects, the continent has a wealth of natural resources and conducive climate for economic development including agriculture, mining and tourism. Despite enormous positive achievements, a large number of nations in this region are still facing several challenges including poverty, security, and climate change. In order to address these challenges and guide the policies and activities that affect the continent, the African Union Commission (AUC) plays a crucial role. The AU Commission, which was established to promote unity and collaboration among African countries, is essential in addressing these crucial issues.  

An important turning point for the continent is the election of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) and other senior officials. The future of African unity, development, and cooperation on important issues will be greatly influenced by this event. Every election has the capacity to bring about revolutionary change, and this one is no exception. Several contenders have already begun running for this important role. Candidates for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission have already begun their election debates. They held their first debate in Addis Ababa weeks ago.

The debate was between Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Madagascar's former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato.

The candidates articulated their strategies during the Mjadala Afrika Leadership Debate regarding the transformation of Africa, if they are elected in the February 2025 election.

Effective leadership can significantly enhance the continent's development trajectory by scaling up the ongoing positive achievements.  The priorities for the continent under the new leadership are clear. Economic development is one of the keys.

 

An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa Through Free Trade  

Africa is predicted to have the fastest GDP growth rates in the upcoming years, demonstrating its enormous potential. However, it continues to face difficulties due to low intraregional trade volumes.  The term "regional integration" describes initiatives taken by countries in a certain geographic area to promote economic growth, trade, and collaboration. In order to change economies and society and pave the way for a more prosperous future, Africa must integrate regionally.

At the moment, intra-African commerce is much less than that of other regions.  Countries can take use of local resources, lessen their need on imports, and promote economic growth throughout the continent by boosting intra-African trade.

Regional integration allows African businesses to tap into larger markets beyond their national borders. This fosters competition, encourages innovation, and ultimately drives economic growth. A single market also provides a more diverse array of products and services for consumers.

Using electricity grids, highways, and railroads, cross-border infrastructure initiatives like the African Union's Programe for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) seek to link countries. Costs are greatly decreased via shared infrastructure. Countries can invest in major projects more effectively by combining their resources. For instance, compared to individual national road improvements, building a regional highway network can save billions of dollars. Here, we can discuss Ethiopia's provision of electricity to its neighbors.  Better transportation and logistics systems are also a direct result of improved infrastructure just like the Ethio-Djibouti railways. By reducing expenses and accelerating cross-border goods transfers, this improves overall economic efficiency.

Integration promotes the growth of industry. It creates markets for regionally produced items, which can spur innovation and technical breakthroughs that boost local economies even more.

Regional integration reduces risks associated with investment in Africa, improving investor confidence. Statistics show that integrated regions attract more FDI, as investors feel more secure with predictable policies.

The combined size of integrated markets attracts investments, as businesses are eager to settle in regions with larger consumer bases. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to create a massive market of over one billion people.

One of the key priorities that the new leadership should give is trade links among countries in the continent.  The governments of Africa have already decided to implement AfCFTA.  This continental framework is essential for addressing the global challenges arising from inequitable international trade practices, which have hindered Africa's ability to eradicate poverty and enhance the living standards of its population.  This continental framework is widely regarded as a valuable tool to accelerate Africa's longstanding initiatives aimed at overcoming poverty and achieving robust economic growth.

The agreement establishes a unified market for goods and services, while facilitating the movement of individuals to strengthen economic integration across the continent, in alignment with the Pan African Vision of "An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa," as outlined in Agenda 2063.

AU members are actively making efforts to implement the agreement in its entirety. However, progress has been sluggish, resulting in delays. Consequently, the new senior leadership of AUC faces significant challenges ahead.

 

The new Chairperson of AUC is expected to make intensive efforts to  significantly impact trade agreements and economic progress across Africa as he is responsible for implementing AU’s policies and programs, managing the operations of the Commission, and representing the AU in global dialogues to expediting the implementation of AfCFTA as it is anticipated to enhance intra-African trade, while foreign direct investment in Africa is on the rise, with the continent drawing in billions of USD. Analysts contend that promoting regional trade can drive economic development and lessen dependence on external influences.

Above all, the senior leadership of AUC that will be elected in February is tasked with the responsibility of fostering collaboration among African nations to consolidate their resources and generate substantial wealth, which is essential for expediting development across the continent.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A crucial development initiative that warrants significant focus from Africans is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), commonly known as the Global Goals. Established by the United Nations in 2015, these goals represent a universal call to action aimed at eliminating poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring that by 2030, everyone can enjoy peace and prosperity.

The SDGs are interlinked, recognizing that advancements in one area can positively impact others, thereby highlighting the necessity for a holistic approach to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. African nations have committed to prioritizing the welfare of the most vulnerable populations. The SDGs strive to eradicate poverty, hunger, and gender inequality. Realizing these goals demands the collective innovation, expertise, technology, and financial resources from all sectors of society. Successfully achieving the SDGs will yield tremendous advantages for Africa, including economic development, social justice, and environmental conservation. A commitment to swift implementation will pave the way for a thriving and sustainable future for generations ahead.

While the continent is making strides toward the SDGs, progress has been inconsistent. Investing in SDG initiatives holds the promise of substantial rewards, and cultivating public-private partnerships can secure vital funding for sustainable projects.

In summary, the upcoming leadership of the African Union is expected to tackle these pressing issues to expedite the continent's development through collaboration with member states. Although the path may be fraught with challenges, a focused approach on these critical areas can lead to lasting change. Despite the obstacles, there are also considerable opportunities for progress.