MON SEPT 21 2026-theGBJournal| African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for a shift from exporting raw materials to building stronger African value chains, saying the continent must better mobilise its own capital to drive industrial transformation.
Speaking alongside United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the Global Africa Business Initiative’s (GABI) “Unstoppable Africa 2026” event on the margins of the 81st U.N. General Assembly, Youssouf said Africa’s natural resources, youthful population and market of about 1.5 billion people offered significant economic opportunities.
“Our ambition must now match this potential,” he said.
Youssouf said Africa needed to move beyond exporting raw materials and accelerate industrialisation by developing stronger value chains within the continent.
“Removing tariff and non-tariff barriers through the African Continental Free Trade Area is essential, but not enough. Africa must move from market access to market power, from fragmented trade hubs to an integrated continental market, and from exporting resources to adding value within Africa,” he added.
He said that transformation would require affordable and abundant energy, quality infrastructure, skills and technology, access to capital, and effective standards and certification.
A key challenge, he said, was mobilising Africa’s existing financial resources, including savings, bank deposits, insurance and pension funds, and directing them towards productive investment across the continent.
Youssouf also called for faster development of regional and continental corridors to improve connectivity and intra-African trade, alongside an investment climate supported by sound institutions, effective regulation and good governance.
Peace and stability, he said, remained fundamental to investment and development.
The African Union was therefore advancing reforms in conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.
“The message is clear: Africa must invest in Africa.”
GABI and Unstoppable Africa, he said, provided platforms to translate ambition into action and mobilise collective resources for transformation.
The chairperson concluded that the shared objective should be a prosperous, integrated and self-sustaining Africa driven by African value creation and empowered by African agency.
The event brought together Heads of State and Government, CEOs, investors and innovators to discuss Africa’s economic potential, launch investment vehicles and advance infrastructure that keeps value and wealth on the continent.
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