Former African Union Commission chairperson tells a high-level dialogue in Maputo that Africa must move beyond dependence on external aid, add value to its resources and strengthen its voice in global decision-making.

MAPUTO, Mozambique – Africa must stop depending on others to drive its development and take greater control of its resources, economy and future, says Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, former chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Delivering the opening keynote address at the High-Level Dialogue on Africa and the Remaking of Global Power: Multilateralism, Resource Sovereignty and the Politics of Resourcing, taking place in Maputo from 14 to 16 October 2026, Dlamini Zuma called for greater African unity, economic independence and a stronger role for the continent in shaping global decisions.

Her message was direct: Africa cannot achieve its development goals if it continues to depend on external support while allowing much of the value created from its natural resources to benefit economies outside the continent.

“A begging hand has no power,” she said, stressing the need for African countries to build their own capacity to finance and drive development.

She reinforced this point with the familiar saying: “who pays the piper calls the tune.”

For Dlamini Zuma, the challenge is not simply about securing more funding for Africa. It is also about changing the relationship between the continent and those who provide financial support, as well as ensuring that African countries have greater control over their priorities and development choices.

Dlamini Zuma argued that African countries would have greater influence in international affairs if they worked together and presented common positions on issues affecting the continent.

She said Africa must not remain on the sidelines while other countries make decisions that shape its future. Instead, African leaders must work towards a shared position in global forums, including the United Nations.

Her argument builds on the Pan-African vision of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who believed that the independence of individual African countries could not be separated from the freedom and progress of the wider continent.

For Dlamini Zuma, division weakens Africa’s ability to negotiate, protect its interests and influence international decisions. A united continent, by contrast, would be better placed to contribute to global solutions and demand changes to systems that do not adequately represent African interests.

She called for African countries to move beyond approaching international institutions only to request support. The continent must also bring its own ideas, defend its interests and take part in shaping the rules that govern the world.

A central theme of the address was the gap between Africa’s natural wealth and the economic conditions faced by many of its people.

Dlamini Zuma challenged the practice of exporting raw minerals and other natural resources before buying back finished products at higher prices. This approach, she argued, means that African countries lose out on jobs, industrial development and income that could be created by processing resources locally.

Rather than exporting raw materials, African countries must invest in industries that turn these resources into finished or higher-value products.

This would help create jobs, strengthen local businesses and allow more of the wealth generated from Africa’s resources to remain on the continent.

The message speaks directly to the idea of resource sovereignty: the ability of African countries to make decisions about their resources and ensure that these resources contribute to the development of their people.

For Dlamini Zuma, having natural resources is not enough. Africa must also have the skills, industries, infrastructure and investment needed to use them for its own benefit.

Dlamini Zuma also placed young people at the centre of Africa’s development. With a large and growing youth population, she said the continent must invest in education, skills and opportunities that allow young people to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Young Africans should not be viewed only as the future workforce. They are also part of the present and must be involved in finding solutions to the continent’s challenges.

She called for a skills revolution that would prepare young people to create jobs, develop new ideas and participate in areas such as science, technology and innovation.

The address also raised the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for Africa to become a creator of technology rather than only a consumer of products developed elsewhere.

While AI offers opportunities for innovation and economic growth, Dlamini Zuma warned that emerging technologies also bring risks. These include the use of AI in weapons, cyberattacks and the concentration of power in the hands of a small number of actors.

Africa, she argued, must develop the skills and capacity to participate in decisions about how these technologies are designed, used and governed.

The keynote also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in Africa’s economic and social development.

Dlamini Zuma called for women to have better access to education, skills, finance and economic opportunities. She argued that the continent cannot reach its full potential if women are excluded from the systems and resources needed to build their livelihoods and businesses.

This requires more than recognising women’s contributions. It means creating conditions that allow women to participate fully in economic life and influence decisions that affect their communities.

Her argument places women’s economic empowerment within the wider question of how Africa mobilises and distributes resources for development.

Dlamini Zuma called for stronger trade between African countries and greater efforts to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She argued that African countries need to trade more with one another, develop their manufacturing industries and reduce barriers that limit the movement of goods, services and people.

She also highlighted the importance of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, which supports cross-border trade by allowing participating African countries to make payments in their local currencies.

Such systems can help reduce reliance on external currencies and make trade between African businesses easier.

The free movement of people is another part of this agenda. Dlamini Zuma pointed to the need for African countries to make progress on arrangements that allow people to travel and move across borders more easily.

Together, these measures could help strengthen regional economic links and make it easier for African businesses and industries to grow beyond national markets.

Dlamini Zuma’s address returned to a central message: Africa must take a more active role in deciding its own future.

The continent has significant natural resources, a large and youthful population and opportunities to expand its industries, technology and trade. However, these advantages will not automatically lead to development without stronger institutions, investment in people and cooperation between countries.

She pointed to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as an important framework for the continent’s long-term development, while highlighting implementation as a major challenge.

Achieving its goals requires action from governments, businesses, civil society and other institutions across Africa. Commitments must be translated into policies, investment and programmes that improve people’s lives.

Her message was also a challenge to the international community. Africa should not be treated as a testing ground for external ideas or as a supplier of raw materials. It should be recognised as a partner with the capacity to contribute knowledge, innovation and solutions to global challenges.

“Africa will not only supply the future. Africa will shape it,” she said.

The three-day dialogue in Maputo brings together policymakers, scholars, philanthropic leaders, civil society, private-sector actors and other stakeholders to discuss Africa’s place in a changing global order, control over critical resources and the systems needed to support the continent’s future. Convened by the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), based at Wits Business School, with its partners, the dialogue creates space for discussion on how African societies can strengthen their influence and mobilise resources for their own development.

Dlamini Zuma’s keynote set out a clear challenge for those conversations: African countries must work together, invest in their people and create more value from their resources if they are to exercise greater influence over their own future.

For Africa to shape the next global order, unity must be matched by action.