Leading In 2025: From Regional Consolidation To Driving The Global Africa Agenda

The global stage in 2025 will be defined by shifting power dynamics, economic uncertainty and heightened multipolarity trends that are likely to intensify fragmentation. For Africa, the combination of high debts, low growth and soaring borrowing costs underscores the urgency of fostering self-sufficiency, building productive capacity, and pursuing reforms in the global financial system.

Against this backdrop, Africa finds itself uniquely positioned to leverage decades of strategic regional consolidation to assert its leadership on the global stage. This moment offers the continent a rare chance to transition from a participant in international dialogue to a principal architect of global economic and geopolitical frameworks.

The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA Secretariat, the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank and Africa Collective have embarked on a partnership to organise the Africa Collective Davos Week on the margins of the World Economic Forum 2025, to advance African economic and investment topics there.

The year 2025 marks a watershed moment for African governance and global leadership. African representation expanded in the BRICS bloc with new members including Egypt and Ethiopia. South Africa assumed the presidency of the G20. With the African Union AU now holding a permanent seat in this critical global forum, the opportunity is ripe for African actors to play a central role in the B20 the business coalition on the sidelines of the G20, amplifying the continents strategic priorities in global economic discussions. While these milestones represent landmark opportunities for Africa to shape international policy frameworks, from global financial architecture to climate action, regional consolidation efforts are laying further groundwork for this global influence.

Through Agenda 2063, the AU has provided a long-term vision for transforming Africa into a prosperous, united, and influential continent and a major partner in global affairs. Various pan-African institutions are working towards driving transformative initiatives that consolidate regional efforts and position the continent as a formidable global player.