Gounou Moutawakilou : « Everyone wants to talk with Africa…except Africa with itself ! «
In this Cart’Afrik, Gounou Moutawakilou, President of Gounou®, raises a powerful truth: everyone wants to engage in dialogue with Africa… except Africa with itself. Behind the billions in foreign investments and the promises of free trade, he highlights an urgent priority: Africans must first talk to one another in order to build their future from within. By Gounou Moutawakilou*
Japan–Africa Summit, China–Africa, USA–Africa, Qatar–Africa, Germany–Africa, even Italy–Africa (yes, Italy!)…
But Africa? When will it sit down to talk to itself?
Because that’s where the real bug is.
We run after “innovations” thousands of kilometers away… while practical solutions are napping just 20 km from our doorstep
We run after “innovations” thousands of kilometers away… while practical solutions are napping just 20 km from our doorstep.
In 2023, we were served $53 billion in FDI. In 2024, it doubled: $97 billion. It looks impressive on a TV set. But compared to the $3,400 billion in intra-African trade we’re denying ourselves, it’s pocket change.
We’d rather go begging in Beijing or Paris… than open the cash drawer of our neighbor.
And if we go a bit further:
They sold us the African Continental Free Trade Area with trumpets and spotlights. On paper, it’s Netflix. In real life, it’s a scratched VHS tape left in the rain.
Five years later, can anyone say when it will actually start?
Free movement? Adopted six years ago, ratified by… four countries
A European can travel more easily across Africa… than an African.
Free movement? Adopted six years ago, ratified by… four countries. The result: crossing an African border is like Survivor, customs office edition.
And payments? Same obstacle course.
You want to pay a supplier in Ghana from Benin? Get ready to sweat.
You’ll sweat more than sending a transfer to Europe.
PAPSS exists, sixteen central banks are connected… but as long as not everyone is plugged in, it’s WhatsApp with three contacts: useless.
It’s not about refusing to trade with the world. It’s about knowing how to set priorities. And priority number one should be simple: talking to each other
Let’s be clear: it’s not about refusing to trade with the world. It’s about knowing how to set priorities. And priority number one should be simple: talking to each other.
Before seducing the world, let’s start by listening to ourselves.
Among ourselves. For ourselves. With ourselves.
The rest will follow.
