President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has reiterated the importance of Africa’s unity and firmly rejected the idea of a new scramble for the continent. Speaking at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union (AU), regional economic communities, regional mechanisms, and African Union member states in Nairobi, Kenya, Tinubu emphasized the need to learn from the past plundering and exploitation of Africa and ensure it is not repeated.
Highlighting the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors such as trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by African nations in an uncertain and unkind world. He stressed the importance of proactive and visionary governance in overcoming these challenges, noting that passive observation of Africa’s fate is not an option.
Addressing the notion of a new scramble for Africa, Tinubu emphasized Africa’s resilience and determination. He declared that the continent’s spirit is strong and that the mistakes of the past should stay in the past, never to be repeated. He sent a clear message to any potential new scramblers, affirming Africa’s readiness to protect its interests and forge a prosperous future based on unity and self-determination.
