Our closing high-level panel on Charting Africa’s Geopolitical and Economic Future synthesized key debates on economic sovereignty, technology, trade integration, and institutional leadership. Moderated by H.E. Michelle Ndiaye (@MichelleNdiaye1), the final session featured urgent, actionable insights from H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (@GEJonathan), H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn (@HMDessalegn), and Hon. Dr. Kaire Mbuende (@NPC_Namibia).

Economic sovereignty requires the control of resources and raw materials for the betterment of societies in the continent. - Hon. Dr. Kaire Mbuende, Director-General of the Namibia National Planning Commission. #TanaForum2026

"We need to focus on the essential role of accelerated integration due to shifting conflict and geopolitical dynamics in Africa." – H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Closing High Level Panel: Charting Africa’s Geopolitical and Economic Future "Technology and industrialization are an integral part of economic sovereignty in Africa." — His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, GCON and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. #TanaForum2026

His Excellency recommends looking back at indigenous technologies in Africa rather than borrowing or consuming technological production from abroad.

H.E. Dr. Abdel Fatau Musah, Governance, Peace and Security Expert and Former Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security, ECOWAS recommended the following policy options; 1. Reducing the cost of registering businesses 2. Promoting non-tariff barriers across the continent 3. Moving towards stable currencies through cashless economies 4. Not criminalize informalities, but maximizing the positive gains from informal traders. #TanaForum2026

The free movement of people, cross-border trade and infrastructural development for regional integration across Africa is critical for the continent to move forward. — H.E. Dr. Abdel Fatau Musah, Former Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace & Security, ECOWAS. 🌍 #TanaForum2026

At Session III, ICRC Regional Director for Africa Mamadou Sow highlighted three vital takeaways on illicit economies: controlling weapons across porous borders, preventing arms from falling into the wrong hands, and ensuring all warring parties strictly respect international humanitarian law. #TanaForum2026

"Africa hosts 40% of the 130 conflicts globally, while non-state armed groups operating in the continent control 110 million territories that they operate in." — Mr. Mamadou Sow, ICRC Regional Director for Africa, presenting the state of conflicts for consideration by the AU and humanitarian agencies.

Africa's communal agency in violent conflict setting, explores how communal grass-root institution contributes to humanitarian aid and survival under the conditions of state abandonment and violent conflicts in Africa, taking the example of Sudan. - Lita Wanjiru Ngure, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK #TanaForum2026

The AU Post-conflict and reconstruction policies, #AfCFTA, and member states should document and recognise grass-root organisation in disaster reduction and resource allocation in times of violence.

The lived realities of informal but legitimate cross-border small- scale traders and their significant role in sustaining livelihood, regional integration and peace in the continent. - Fadzai Nyamarebvu, International University of Management (IUM), Windhoek, Namibia.

The formal regional institutions and policies should ensure the participation and recognition of informal cross-border small-scale traders and differentiate them from uncompliant and illicit economies.

🧵 Highlight from the Meles Zenawi Lecture Series: Cheikh Anta Diop wasn't just a Senegalese intellectual; he was a powerhouse who reshaped how we view Africa’s history. As Dr. Dialo Diop, Physician-Biologist and close associate of Cheikh Anta Diop noted, his vision pushed past borders to fight for the unity of the entire continent. #TanaForum2026

Building on that, Dr. Yoporeka Somet (Director, Centre for African Renaissance Studies) points out Diop's ultimate goal: to build Africa’s future on a reclaimed understanding of its rich past. 🌍 #CheikhAntaDiop #AfricanIntellectuals #TanaForum2026 #PanAfricanism #MelesZenawiLectureSeries

There are things we need to learn to do ourselves, continentally and nationally. Making sure that each resource spent is spent for the betterment of our people.” - H.E. @JDMahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the Tana Forum Board. #TanaForum2026

In order for us to make our institutions better, we seriously need to engage our academics and scholars to hear about the real situation. - H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. #TanaForum2026

Until we are able to create a much better division of labour and have real time diplomacy, involving civil societies, non-state actors, communities; we are going to find ourselves challenged with partners that are not fit for purpose. Some partnerships are interest based, but have we defined our interests well enough, so as not to undermine what we are trying to do through our institutions. - H.E. @HannaTetteh, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. #TanaForum2026

We need to own our own narrative. With technology, who owns the data, drives the narrative. There is a need to drive the narrative but we cannot drive it if we do not own it. - H.E. Amb. @MaureenAAchieng , Permanent Representative of IGAD to the African Union. #TanaForum2026

We are not obligated to rely on each investment on the continent coming from borrowed money abroad, nothing in history tells us that we must. This framework was not employed in the US, the EU or Asia . - Dr. Redge Nkosi, Executive Director, African Heterodox Economics Network (AHEN) #TanaForum2026