Pres. Boakai Cautions Africans
By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
Liberian Leader, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has charged African nations: to rise boldly, unify strategically, and assert their rightful place in a rapidly shifting world order.
Delivering a Special Statement in TANGIER, MOROCCO, on November 26, 2025 — at the MEDays Forum—formally “the Davos of the Global South held under the theme, “Fractures and Polarization: Re-inventing the Global Equation,” exposes a stark global reality—one in which Africa can no longer afford to stand at the margins.
President Boakai warned that Africa risks losing ownership of its destiny if it does not act decisively. “In earlier centuries, Africans were taken away from Africa, today, through decisions made far from our shores, there is a growing risk that this time Africa may be taken away from Africans.” He emphasized that Africa’s vast resources continue to enrich others more than the continent’s own people.
The Liberian leader insisted that this long-standing paradigm of exploitation and exclusion “cannot continue,” arguing that dignity, fairness, and sovereignty demand a fundamental shift. Africa, he asserted, “must stand not as an observer but as an architect; not as a recipient but as a contributor; not as a continent waiting for permission, but as a continent shaping its own destiny.”
President Boakai outlined four pillars he believes are essential for Africa’s emergence as a global force:
Geopolitics — He stressed the importance of unity and moral leadership, noting that Africa’s collective voice must be strengthened within global institutions. Africa, he maintained, must not become a battlefield for global rivalry but a pillar of peace and negotiation.
Security — Confronting terrorism, cyber threats, piracy, and organized crime requires deeper cooperation, intelligence sharing, and professional security institutions. “A secure Africa stands tall in global affairs,” he said.
Economic Governance — Calling out systems that “extract more than they build,” President Boakai urged African nations to insist on value addition, fair negotiation, and mineral processing at home. “No nation has developed by exporting raw materials alone,” he reminded the audience.
Regional Integration — Accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area, harmonizing standards, and building infrastructure—from railways to digital corridors—are crucial for transforming Africa into a unified economic powerhouse.
The president also called on global investors to embrace a positive and respectful approach to Africa—one rooted in shared prosperity, local ownership, strong governance, and sustainable development. “A positive mindset sees Africa not as a risk, but as a partner in global progress,” he declared.
Invoking a powerful African proverb—“Until the lion learns to speak, every story will glorify the hunter”—President Boakai affirmed that Africa is now finding its voice and reshaping the narrative long written by others.
In a rousing conclusion, he proclaimed:
“Africa is not silent. Africa is speaking. Africa is not waiting. Africa is moving. Africa is not behind. Africa is rising.” He urged unity, courage, and purpose as the continent seeks a global future where African voices and African prosperity are central, not peripheral.
