With the G20 heads of state summit drawing closer, Africa is racing to rally global support for its agenda. South Africa’s presidency is seeking to drive consensus and action on priority issues like climate finance, debt relief, global financial reform, and inequality. But why should leaders outside of Africa take on these challenges with the same gusto as Africa’s leaders? Because it is in their self-interest to do so. Success or failure in these matters will have far-reaching implications not only for Africa’s future, but for the world’s collective stability and prosperity.
The 21st century is unmistakably the African century. The continent is undergoing a major demographic transformation that has magnified its role in the…