The world today is shaped by a series of overlapping crises, what many now call a polycrisis. From geopolitical conflicts and shifting trade alliances to climate shocks and economic volatility, these forces are changing how nations and businesses operate. For Africa, these disruptions bring undeniable risks. However, resilience should also necessitate that we turn crisis into opportunities to reset our trajectory, for the only constant is change.
This year’s shifts to US tariff policies sent ripples through global economies, not sparing Africa. Export-dependent sectors in countries such as Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa, Botswana, and Nigeria were suddenly faced with reduced market access, potential job losses, and unprecedented uncertainty. In South Africa, our automobile, steel, citrus, and wine industries overnight faced a 30% tariff, placing over 100,000 jobs and billions in trade value at risk.
But while these challenges seemed daunting, they are not insurmountable. We must up the ante on pivoting to new markets. Instead of succumbing to gloom, these shifts were an overdue wake-up call to accelerate regional integration, develop our value-chains, and diversify our markets where possible.
Africa’s over-reliance on single export markets has long been a vulnerability, a product of decades, nay centuries of systematic under-development. In responding, the following are tactics which we might consider:
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Deepening intra-African trade by removing non-tariff barriers and harmonising trade policies.Putting in place the mechanisms to invest in infrastructure at scale, be it our ports, rail, roads, and digital connectivity. These should aim to reduce the cost and time of moving goods across and off the continent.Promoting beneficiation. Value addition at source should be an imminent priority, as…