Unity in Geographic Diversity: African Insights on Representation and Agency

Strengthening African agency requires more inclusive and representative governance at national and continental levels, economic structures that create fair and sustainable opportunities for young people, and multilateral spaces in which African states engage as equal partners rather than passive recipients of external strategies. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for example, has too often been framed by external powers through narratives of geopolitical tension and resource exploitation. “I'd like to see the world understand that the DRC is not just about natural resources and mining," said Christian-Geraud Neema, Africa Editor of the China-Global South Project and non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He calls for moving beyond “the old geopolitics” and the outdated strategic lens through which the DRC has long been viewed, and for recognizing it instead as a country with agency. And agency, he emphasized, begins with the people themselves. Because, according to Grant Davis, Chairperson of the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA)'s AfCFTA Campaign:

“Africa’s most powerful resource is its own people.”

In fact, Ghana, stated Betty Mould-Iddrisu, has actively participated in regional processes and produced phenomenal leaders who, over the past 30 to 40 years, have consistently provided action-oriented leadership across Africa’s sub-regions. According to the lawyer and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Ghana, 

Women should especially be at the forefront as “agents for change.”

While leadership and representation remain essential drivers of progress, Fellows also emphasized that Africa’s future will depend just as much on addressing structural challenges, such as unemployment and the lack of sustainable job opportunities for its rapidly growing youth population. As Robert Ochola, Chief Executive Officer of AfricaNenda, noted, countries in Africa continue to struggle with generating sufficient jobs, in part because young people, small-scale farmers, and informal retailers often lack access to affordable financing that would allow them to improve their livelihoods.

Grant also pointed out that unemployment and stagnant economic growth remain among Africa’s most pressing issues. He believes the continent’s future will depend on building supportive ecosystems that enable entrepreneurs to thrive and create opportunities at scale.

Despite these challenges, many African countries have emerged as leaders and champions in certain fields. Ghana, for instance, plays a strong role in preserving and advancing cultural heritage, as Betty emphasized. The country has signed onto major international treaties on intellectual property and cultural preservation, and its creative sector, which is driven largely by innovators from low-income communities, holds significant potential for generating wealth.

Grant noted the continent’s greatest assets lie not only in its cultural richness but in the creativity, ingenuity, and shared humanity of its people. On a social level, he described “Ubuntu” - the idea that “I am because you are” - as one of the most powerful contributions Africa brings to the world. For him, this ethos of interdependence and collective strength shapes how the continent approaches its future.

Besides being rich in remarkable cultural and linguistic diversity as well as holding immense potential for innovation and economic growth, one theme consistently emerged throughout the discussions: the transformative potential of youth. 

“Africa is blessed with a youth dividend, and to me, one of the most important resources that Africa, and Kenya in particular, has is the incredible talent within its young people,” stated Robert Ochola.

He stressed that Kenya has an optimistic, highly intellectual, and hardworking youth community eager to drive development and innovation.

In the case of Tunisia, Khouloud Ben Mansour highlighted that the country is home to a highly educated, creative, and innovative young population. Yet economic challenges are driving many of these young people to move abroad. Tunisia is therefore heavily affected by brain drain, meaning that the very individuals who could drive progress and innovation are leaving the country in search of better opportunities. The concern about younger generations being affected by difficult economic conditions was also shared by Robert and Grant. “It is important to create industries and value chains that serve our people, create jobs, and ensure that we compete meaningfully in the world,” shared Robert.

At the same time, Tunisia’s and many other African countries’ long-term resilience depends on these young people participating in and contributing to their country’s development. Looking ahead, Khouloud emphasized the importance of creating pathways for Tunisian youth to gain the recognition they are entitled to. As she put it:

“Youth deserve to have a seat at the table, and they deserve to contribute actively to policymaking.” 

However, translating this potential into lasting progress requires a long-term development strategy rather than short-term visions - something that, as Christian-Geraud explained, the DRC still struggles to implement. In his view, his country can better leverage its assets for both local prosperity and continental leadership by thinking in terms of a long-term, coherent national vision.

A future-oriented vision for Africa begins with recognizing the continent’s own strengths: its cultural and natural richness, its deep-rooted sense of shared humanity, and the immense potential of its youthful population. African countries - whether Ghana, South Africa, the DRC, Kenya, or Tunisia - each with their own uniqueness, are claiming a seat at the decision-making table. Such a vision points toward a future in which Africans themselves define their own priorities, draw strength from their cultural and intellectual wealth, and shape regional and global agendas.