Meeting in Lomé on June 2, 2025, at the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the African Political Alliance (APA), African diplomacy issued a strong call for a reshaping of the continent’s position on the international stage. Led by Togo, the heads of diplomacy of several African countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Liberia, and the DRC) emphasized the urgent need for strategic repositioning in the face of a rapidly changing world.
Key themes of Lomé’s advocacy
Breaking with the defensive logic of the past: Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey called for a shift away from inherited postures so that Africa could stop being a victim of history and become a full agent of its own destiny.
Pan-African solidarity and coordination: Lomé called for collective diplomacy, going beyond isolated initiatives. The objective is to effectively defend African interests in international arenas and strengthen intra-African solidarity.
Strategic autonomy in security and defense: The discussions emphasized the need for Africa to ensure its own security, create a continental military industry, finance its security systems internally, and build a collective defense system.
Increased international representation: Participants called for greater African representation in global bodies, particularly at the UN Security Council, and a stronger voice on issues of trade, energy transition, and digital governance.
Institutionalization of a new dynamic: The conference should lead to the adoption of a “Lomé Declaration” and the establishment of concrete mechanisms to translate political will into coordinated and structured actions.
Towards a Sovereign and Influential Africa
Lomé’s stated objective is to make Africa a central player in the new multipolar world order, no longer in a subordinate position, but as a proactive force and equal partner.
In short, Lomé paves the way for an uninhibited, bold, and pragmatic African diplomacy, determined to transform political will into operational architecture and reposition Africa as the architect of its own global destiny.
