Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for stronger economic co-operation and integration among African countries, saying collective action is necessary for the continent to navigate growing geopolitical and economic pressures.
Mudavadi said Africa must develop partnerships, policies and projects capable of translating the African Union’s Agenda 2063 into tangible economic outcomes for its people.
He said the global economy was undergoing structural realignment, with developments including the Middle East crisis, conflicts on the continent, disruptions at vital trade chokepoints, rising protectionism and trade tensions having implications for Africa.
“These heightened trade and geopolitical tensions call for collective economic response, with partnerships, policies and projects that translate the vision of Agenda 2063 into tangible economic outcomes that transform the lives of African people,” he said.
Mudavadi was delivering a keynote address at the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum in El Alamein, Egypt on Saturday.
The forum was held on the sidelines of the 8th Mid-Year Co-ordination meeting of the African Union.
The forum brings together political leaders and private sector representatives to discuss Africa’s economic trajectory and strengthen cooperation between African Union institutions and businesses.
The PCS identified financial fragmentation as one of the challenges limiting Africa’s economic potential, saying the continent continues to have a highly fragmented and geographically concentrated financial system, which constrains efficient cross-border capital flows.
“Regional financial integration is therefore essential to unlock capital flows, strengthen economic linkages and reduce disparities,” Mudavadi added.
He called on the private sector to work with African governments to unlock trade and deepen economic integration across the continent.
Mudavadi said Kenya remains committed to regional and continental integration, particularly through accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He noted that President William Ruto’s role as Chair of the Assembly Committee on AfCFTA Implementation underlines Kenya’s commitment to advancing continental trade integration.
He said AfCFTA provides a platform for accelerating industrialisation, strengthening regional value chains and attracting investment, while recognising private sector participation as an important driver of economic integration.
He also identified infrastructure and logistics connectivity as major constraints to efficient trade flows across Africa.
“The active participation of the private sector is therefore also essential to advancing regional and continental infrastructure and logistics connectivity,” he said.
Mudavadi pointed to the September 30 groundbreaking of the East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, as an example of an African-led project aimed at addressing Africa’s economic needs.
The groundbreaking ceremony, hosted by President Ruto, brought together Heads of State and Government, representatives of African development institutions and business leaders led by Aliko Dangote.
Mudavadi said the refinery would accelerate implementation of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, commonly known as LAPSSET, which is designed to link Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan and eventually connect the Eastern Africa region with the wider continent.
He described the refinery, backed by the Dangote Group, as an example of Africa developing solutions to meet its own needs.
“This legacy project, backed by the Dangote Group, a private enterprise, demonstrates our objective and growing capacity to provide African solutions to African needs,” Mudavadi said.
He said the project also embodied African unity because it was conceived and driven by Africans for the benefit of the continent.
Under a public-private partnership model, Mudavadi said the refinery is expected to serve East Africa and beyond, while generating potential benefits including regional energy security, value addition, industrialisation and job creation.
Beyond the refinery, Mudavadi called for greater investment in regional transport corridors, cross-border digital payment systems and integrated energy grids to facilitate intra-African trade.
He said Africa should also promote shared infrastructure to support cross-border mega-projects and industrial development.
“Our continent is competing globally, and attaining the necessary scale requires holistic approach by Governments, private sector and development partners,” Mudavadi said.
He urged African countries to address physical and regulatory barriers to trade while supporting the emergence of continental companies and projects capable of competing globally.
Mudavadi also called for structural and institutional reforms to maximise the benefits of Africa’s resources and capabilities, including infrastructure, trade, critical minerals, digital innovation, the creative economy and its youthful population.
He said Africa already possesses the human resources, natural resources and strategic intent required to achieve its development goals.
“With this team here today, we can attain Africa’s desired development goals. We have the capabilities, the human resources, the natural resources and the strategic intent,” he said.
Mudavadi expressed hope that the outcomes of the Alamein Africa Forum would contribute to deliberations at the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting and advance the continent’s broader economic integration agenda.
