🌍 If Africa doesn’t build intra-African economic strength, we will always suffer from crises we know nothing about. MMLUTHER Ⓜ️ It’s a hard truth: African countries must urgently build economies that rely more on each other than on external powers. This is no longer a luxury — it’s a matter of economic survival and strategic sovereignty. From the north to the south, the continent needs robust, strategic partnerships that foster mutually beneficial trade, shared industrial goals, and sustainable growth within Africa. Right now, too many of our economies depend almost entirely on exports to foreign nations and the import of basic commodities. That’s why, when war breaks out thousands of miles away, like between Russia and Ukraine, the price of rice, wheat, and oil in Cameroon suddenly skyrockets. 🤔 How does that make sense? It doesn’t — but it’s our current reality. Take Equatorial Guinea as an example: More than 60% of its economy depends on exports like cocoa, coffee, and petroleum. When global market prices fluctuate due to geopolitical shocks or price wars, the country suffers — even though it played no part in those external decisions. 🚨 This should ring a bell Africa is arguably one of the safest zones in case of a global conflict — our humanity and diplomacy are still deeply rooted. But that won’t protect our economies if we keep relying on others to feed us, clothe us, and buy our raw materials. ✅ We need to: - Produce what Africa consumes - Consume what Africa produces - Strengthen intra-African trade - Ease cross-border transactions - Invest in regional value chains Yes, global trade is important. We don’t have to isolate ourselves. But our safety net must be internal — not optional, but obligatory. The AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) is a great start. Now, we need leadership, vision, and accountability to turn it into a functioning ecosystem.