African Trade: Prioritizing Self-Reliance Over Foreign Partnerships

Why‍ does it feel like African trade⁤ is still ⁢built for the benefit of ‍others – not ourselves?

Every time I see African ​governments report trade data, it’s always the same:

👉 “We’ve increased trade with China.”
👉 “Our exports to ‍Europe ​are up.”
👉 “Bilateral agreements⁤ with the US.”

But you almost NEVER see headlines like:
“Intra-African trade hits new record.”
“X% of our exports now go to neighboring⁢ African countries.”
“new cross-border⁣ African supply chains launched.”

Why?

👉 Is it as ⁤foreign trade earns us⁢ precious hard currency?
👉 Is⁤ it because African governments and ⁣institutions ​still value trade with the West and East more than trade with each other?
👉 Is it because intra-african trade is ‍too difficult – or just not politically interesting to promote?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
No foreign‌ trade partner will ever prioritize Africa’s long-term prosperity ⁢over their own.
Yet we seem obsessed with proving how well we’re doing trading with THEM – while ignoring the⁣ hard ‍work of building stronger African ⁣markets for ourselves.

This mindset has to change.

✅ We need to start treating intra-African trade as the foundation of​ our economic future ⁢- not as ⁤an afterthought.
✅ We‍ need⁢ to make ⁤the data ‌VISIBLE and a source of pride – not just hidden‌ in reports.✅ We​ need to stop being surprised when foreign partners act in their own interest⁣ – and start acting in ours.

If we keep celebrating how well we trade with ‌others,but ⁣keep neglecting trade within our own continent,we’ll always stay dependent.Why isn’t intra-African trade the story we tell?
Why do we keep chasing validation from foreign trade instead of ⁢building our OWN value chain?

I would love to hear your views – and ⁢I’m ready for⁣ the debate 👇

#AfricaTrade #intraafricatrade #DecolonizeTrade #BuildAfrica #EconomicIndependence