African Organizations as Pan-African Agents in the ‘New Scramble’

The proliferation of economic summits and partnerships and the opportunities they bring, present an opportunity for Africa to reassert its agency, as well as redefine and reapply pan-Africanism.

Written by Chinweizu Okeke

Mar 8, 2021

President Kagame attends the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. 30 January 2015. PAUL KAGAME / FLICKR

In the past decade, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign economic and diplomatic engagement with Africa. In 2000, there was a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC); in 2008; the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) and notably, in 2019, the Russia-Africa Summit. Some have referred to this increased engagement with Africa through summitry as a ‘new scramble’ for Africa.

Folashade Soule argues that referring to the increased engagement with Africa as a ‘new scramble’ centres foreign countries’ interests and removes the agency from African actors, because unlike the 1884 scramble, African leaders are involved in the agenda-setting and exercise agency. Thus, Africa’s engagement in these fora is itself an exertion of agency.

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About the Author

Chinweizu Okeke

is a recent MSc graduate with interests in public policy, international affairs and African geopolitics, based in Toronto.

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African Organizations as Pan-African Agents in the ‘New Scramble’