African governments push for financial independence

The new generation of the continent’s leaders offers hope that they will demand more influence on the global stage, an activist tells RT

African leaders gathered on Sunday in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, for the fifth mid-year coordination summit of the African Union (AU), where they discussed ways to harmonize national and regional policies in order to advance socioeconomic development across the continent.

Kenyan President William Ruto used the summit to push for a new financing system for the AU that would benefit not only its leaders but also the people of all 55 member countries, as the organization works to integrate the continent into the global economy.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also emphasized Africa’s unity and resilience, arguing for the importance of leaving the history of past exploitation behind and ensuring it is never repeated.

Speaking to RT, activist and Pan-Africanism scholar Mcebo Freedom Dlamini said the posture of current African leaders demonstrates that they are cognizant of problems on the continent.

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“This crop of leaders will begin to demand a seat on the dinner table,” Dlamini predicted, adding that “it is very dangerous” when matters of Africa are being deliberated but the continent’s leaders are absent from the “dinner table when the world is sitting.”