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Pan-African Cooperation is Key to Africa’s Economic Sovereignty, US Associate Professor Says
Pan-African Cooperation is Key to Africa’s Economic Sovereignty, US Associate Professor Says
Sputnik Africa
African countries can protect their currencies and secure essential imports amid the Middle East crisis by coordinating economic policies at a continental... 15.03.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-03-15T15:39+0100
2026-03-15T15:39+0100
2026-03-15T17:25+0100
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African countries can protect their currencies and secure essential imports amid the Middle East crisis by coordinating economic policies at a continental level, economist Fadhel Kaboub told Sputnik Africa.One immediate step, he said, is creating a pan-African collective procurement system. Instead of countries negotiating import contracts individually, African governments could purchase essential goods—such as fertilizers, irrigation equipment, and medical supplies—as a bloc.According to Kaboub, this approach could cut import costs by 5–10%, saving billions that could instead fund infrastructure, energy systems, education, and climate resilience.Kaboub also warns that rising oil prices could push already indebted African nations toward default.To prevent instability, he proposes forming an African and Global South debtors coalition—a counterpart to lender groups like the Paris Club—to collectively negotiate debt cancellation or more favorable repayment terms.Ultimately, he said Africa’s geopolitical influence depends on unity:
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africa, united states (us), middle east, global south, debt, economy
africa, united states (us), middle east, global south, debt, economy
African countries can protect their currencies and secure essential imports amid the Middle East crisis by coordinating economic policies at a continental level, economist Fadhel Kaboub told Sputnik Africa.
One immediate step, he said, is creating a pan-African collective procurement system. Instead of countries negotiating import contracts individually, African governments could purchase essential goods—such as fertilizers, irrigation equipment, and medical supplies—as a bloc.
According to Kaboub, this approach could cut import costs by 5–10%, saving billions that could instead fund infrastructure, energy systems, education, and climate resilience.
“Pan-Africanism is the economics of transformation,” he stressed, arguing that no African country can successfully industrialize on its own.
Kaboub also warns that rising oil prices could push already indebted African nations toward default.
To prevent instability, he proposes forming an African and Global South debtors coalition—a counterpart to lender groups like the Paris Club—to collectively negotiate debt cancellation or more favorable repayment terms.
Ultimately, he said Africa’s geopolitical influence depends on unity:
“Geopolitical leverage on the African continent can only be called leverage if it's done on a continental scale.”
