Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s has aptly observed during the 4th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, that Africa has to blame for allowing others to define its problems and take responsibility for solving them. Africa’s ‘look outward’ mentality has seen the continent lose massive wealth as foreigners exploit its natural resources with meagre returns to the continent. The continent’s unifying body, The African Union, is starved of internal funding, forcing it to source 70% of its funding from the West and China. Some of its programs are 100% externally funded.

Most of the economic and social wellbeing challenges found in Africa can be addressed internally with resolve, accountability and inclusion. The ‘look inward’ recommendation while navigating productive collaboration with external partners is key to reclaiming Africa’s  lost glory and saving it from being a playing field for geopolitical forces out to fulfil their own interests.