Africa's Place in the New World Order: A Critical Examination

Fri Feb 13 2026 07:03:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Africa's leaders convene in Addis Ababa, they face pressing questions about the continent's role amidst shifting global dynamics and power struggles.

In the face of changing global power dynamics and a tendency toward great-power domination led by the U.S. under President Trump, African nations are reevaluating their positions. The upcoming summit in Addis Ababa presents an opportunity for leaders to forge a united front, but challenges remain in negotiating effectively with major powers and transitioning from dependency to autonomy.

Africa's heads of state are gathering in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for their annual meeting this weekend at a time when the continent's place in the world appears to be in flux.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking in Davos last month, described an arresting image of the future of international relations: either countries were at the table or they were on the menu.

For Africa's leaders, who for years have argued that they should be dining at the top table, it was not an unfamiliar analogy. But in his second term, US President Donald Trump has accelerated the trend towards great-power domination of world affairs and the ditching of multilateralism.

The less powerful nations, who may have once relied on the norms and finance of global bodies such as the UN, are now reevaluating their relationships.

These moves have given fresh urgency to the question of how the continent should deal with the rest of the world.

For Tighisti Amare, director of the Africa programme at the UK-based Chatham House think-tank, there is a danger that African countries will be left behind if they fail to develop an effective common strategy.

However, already for the U.S., there is a menu full of tempting bilateral deals involving minerals and natural resources.

Critics have raised concerns over the U.S.'s transaction-focused approach, potentially leading to unfair bargains for African countries.

This critical moment for Africa calls for new strategies and cohesive action among leaders if they are to secure a rightful place in the evolving global landscape.