Africa's Rising Diplomatic Importance

Several global superpowers are hastening to rectify their late arrival in Africa, enhancing their presence or reclaiming their influence after others overshadowed them. A prime example of this is the U.S.-African summit held in Washington just eight months ago. The summit saw the participation of approximately 50 African leaders. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on an African tour starting from Gabon just four months ago, attending the "One Forest Summit" dedicated to conserving the Congo River Basin's forests. This tour also took him to Angola, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recently, St. Petersburg hosted a Russian-African summit with 49 out of 54 African countries participating.

For the United States, the race is on to catch up with foreign investors and counteract the growing influence of China and Russia in Africa. The continent is home to 1.4 billion people, making up 15% of the global population. Forecasts suggest that by 2050, a quarter of the world's populace will reside in Africa, and by 2075, this number is expected to rise to a third.

Africa is destined to be the backdrop where many future historical events unfold. The U.S.-African summit is a belated acknowledgment of this fact. During the summit, the U.S. President expressed support for granting the African Union permanent membership in the G20 and committed to a whopping $55 billion investment in Africa over the next three years. This investment targets green energy, healthcare workforce training, and internet infrastructure upgrades.

France, on the other hand, is battling to regain its historical foothold in Africa from other players like Russia and China. The level of anti-Paris sentiment in Africa has intensified so much that French foreign policymakers have begun adopting terms such as "humility" and "responsibility" in their discourse on Africa. This can be seen as an acknowledgment of the significant missteps in French strategies in the region since those nations gained independence.

The recent military coup in Niger has only compounded the imminent threat of France losing its stature in Africa, especially considering Niger's significance to France. Following their withdrawal from Mali, Niger has become the main base for French forces combating extremism in the region. While Niger might not possess the commercial or geopolitical weight that other countries do, it stands as the West's, particularly France's, last trusted ally in Africa.

This geopolitical jostling for dominance and influence in Africa underscores the continent's rising importance on the world stage. It's clear that the 21st century will be significantly shaped by the events and developments in Africa, and global superpowers are keenly aware of this reality.

Both the United States and France are keenly aware of Russia's expanding footprint in Africa. From military partnerships with nations such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Mali (where the infamous "Wagner" group elements have been ushered in), to the unorthodox methods seldom seen from Western nations, Russia is recalibrating its African strategy. This includes deploying mercenaries, bartering weapons for natural resources, and using wheat as a foreign policy tool.

In a recent summit in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to supply grain shipments to six African countries (Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Eritrea) over the forthcoming months. This move comes amid concerns about the suspension of a grain export agreement in the Black Sea region involving Ukraine.

Echoing the American president's sentiments at the U.S.-Africa summit, Putin promised African leaders that the African Union would gain full membership in the G20, comprising most of the world's largest economies. Additionally, a healthcare assistance program worth 1.2 billion rubles was announced for African nations, coupled with Moscow's commitment to helping the continent develop its energy sector.

China, meanwhile, operates in Africa with an uncanny blend of discretion and strategic insight. Its long-term vision materializes in the creation of new Silk Roads. By successfully persuading many African nations to embrace this modern trade and economic corridor, China is reshaping Africa's economic landscape at every level.

The major industrialized nations, especially France (a former colonial power), have struggled to grasp the shifts within Africa's civil, military, political, and economic elites. They've overlooked a new generation of African professionals – doctors, engineers, bankers, professors, and military officers – who have studied worldwide and possess intellectual backgrounds distinct from those who lived through colonial times and took post-independence positions.

These Western powers fail to recognize that in a world marked by ambiguity, suspicion, volatility, and uncertainty, Africa's emerging elite seeks equitable partnerships, balanced relations, and non-patronizing connections without moralizing undertones.

China's success in Africa can be attributed to its win-win strategy. This approach stands in stark contrast to former colonial powers like France. Various African countries are now distancing themselves from French language and culture, long considered by the Élysée Palace as its influence locomotive for over a century. In a historic move, Mali recently abolished French as its official language through a constitutional amendment. Furthermore, many families from the Maghreb region no longer send their children to study in France, opting instead for English-speaking countries like the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland.

These shifts hint at a new alliance map, with Africa establishing new operational norms and international partnerships based on mutual benefit. The former colonial powers may find themselves sidelined in favor of others who've astutely understood the emerging African order.