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African Pole Imperative: Blueprint That Could Reshape Global Balance of Power
African Pole Imperative: Blueprint That Could Reshape Global Balance of Power
Sputnik Africa
As major powers compete for influence across Africa, the continent faces a choice of its own: continue navigating rival geopolitical interests or build a power... 21.10.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-10-21T18:02+0200
2026-10-21T18:02+0200
2026-10-21T18:02+0200
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African Pole Imperative: Blueprint That Could Reshape Global Balance of Power
Sputnik Africa
As major powers compete for influence across Africa, the continent faces a choice of its own: continue navigating rival geopolitical interests or build a power center capable of shaping the global order on its own terms.
The African Union gained permanent membership in the G20 in 2023, but its longstanding demand for at least two permanent African seats on the UN Security Council remains unmet, highlighting the continent's limited representation in key global security decisions. Meanwhile, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a framework for deeper economic integration, with intra-African trade reaching $220.3 billion in 2024, according to Afreximbank. However, fragmented markets, infrastructure gaps, and divergent national priorities continue to hinder collective action. Africa's ability to overcome these obstacles, coordinate its strategic interests, and strengthen its negotiating power while maintaining diverse international partnerships could determine whether the continent emerges as a distinct pole in an increasingly multipolar world.On African Currents, South African scholar Dr. Malusi Mncube, Research Associate, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, and author of Uniting Africa: The Politics of Regional Integration and Development Cooperation in the Continent, argued that an African pole requires more than 54 countries voting together at the UN or choosing sides among global powers. It demands collective economic, financial, technological, diplomatic, military, institutional, and intellectual capabilities to define Africa's interests and negotiate from a position of strength.For the full perspective and further insights from our guest, tune in to this episode of African Currents, a podcast by Sputnik Africa.Don’t miss an episode — beyond our website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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African Pole Imperative: Blueprint That Could Reshape Global Balance of Power
As major powers compete for influence across Africa, the continent faces a choice of its own: continue navigating rival geopolitical interests or build a power center capable of shaping the global order on its own terms.
The African Union gained permanent membership in the G20 in 2023, but its longstanding demand for at least two permanent African seats on the UN Security Council remains unmet, highlighting the continent's limited representation in key global security decisions. Meanwhile, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a framework for deeper economic integration, with intra-African trade reaching $220.3 billion in 2024, according to Afreximbank. However, fragmented markets, infrastructure gaps, and divergent national priorities continue to hinder collective action. Africa's ability to overcome these obstacles, coordinate its strategic interests, and strengthen its negotiating power while maintaining diverse international partnerships could determine whether the continent emerges as a distinct pole in an increasingly multipolar world.
On African Currents, South African scholar Dr. Malusi Mncube, Research Associate, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, and author of Uniting Africa: The Politics of Regional Integration and Development Cooperation in the Continent, argued that an African pole requires more than 54 countries voting together at the UN or choosing sides among global powers. It demands collective economic, financial, technological, diplomatic, military, institutional, and intellectual capabilities to define Africa's interests and negotiate from a position of strength.
"The multipolarity that is here today, it has been brought about by the anti-colonial liberation struggle of Africans [...]. Africa can create its own pole, but we have to be very precise about what we mean by an African pole. That is very important [...]. An Africa pole would mean that Africa possesses sufficient collective economic, financial, technological, diplomatic, military, institutional, and intellectual capabilities to define its own autonomous interests, defend them, and negotiate with others from a position of strength. The fundamental issue, therefore, is not whether Africa has resources. Definitely we do. Africa has extraordinary resources. The question is whether Africa can transform those resources into productive capacity, continental institutions, and bargaining power [...]. Africa's integration is much more powerful than 54 countries separately exporting raw materials. The African Continental Free Trade Area, therefore, has geopolitical significance because it can potentially transform Africa from a collection of relatively fragmented national markets into a much more integrated economic space," Dr. Mncube noted.
For the full perspective and further insights from our guest, tune in to this episode of African Currents, a podcast by Sputnik Africa.
Don’t miss an episode — beyond our website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
