AfCFTA Secretary-General and Youth Activists Demand Economic Sovereignty to Dismantle Africa's Colonial Legacies

In a series of high-level engagements across the continent, African leaders, trade officials, and youth activists are intensifying calls to dismantle colonial-era economic structures in favor of genuine sovereignty. From the halls of the University of Ghana to the strategic offices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a unified narrative is emerging: Africa’s future depends on controlling its energy resources, digitizing its trade corridors, and resolving the systemic burden of debt and reparations. This momentum is underscored by a recent 23 billion Euro investment pledge for clean energy and a landmark digital trade agreement, signaling a shift toward self-determined industrial transformation. Central to this push is Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, who recently urged African nations to break free from colonial trade legacies that have long hindered the continent's growth. Speaking during the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement with Quest Ghana to establish a new digital trade corridor, Mene emphasized that digital integration is a vital tool for economic independence. By modernizing trade infrastructure, the continent aims to move beyond being a mere supplier of raw materials and instead foster a robust, intra-African market that prioritizes local value addition. This vision of independence extends to the energy sector, where the May 2026 Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi secured 23 billion Euro in commitments to boost clean energy. Experts and policymakers are advocating for the integration of green hydrogen, small modular reactors (SMRs), and AI-driven smart grids to power African industries. However, the focus remains on ensuring these technologies lead to economic sovereignty rather than new forms of external dependency. By developing carbon markets and optimizing energy distribution through local AI solutions, African nations seek to monetize their emission reductions while building a sustainable, independent industrial base. Complementing these high-level policy shifts is a growing grassroots movement led by the continent’s youth. On September 5, 2026, the Pan-African Progressive Front hosted the 'Africa's Freedom Is In Our Hands' forum at the University of Ghana, Legon. Bringing together students from Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the forum addressed the 'debt bondage' and colonial extraction that continue to stifle African economies. Participants engaged in sessions focusing on debt cancellation, the future of the CFA Franc, and the pursuit of reparations, framing these issues as the settlement of historical debts. Inspired by the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah, this generation is positioning itself as a critical force in the rejection of neocolonialism and the reclamation of Africa’s economic destiny.