Kako Nubupko has stepped down from his role as commissioner of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) to focus on academic pursuits.

The former Togolese minister for forward planning and public policy evaluation speaks with Hichem Ben Yaïche about his recent publication, Africa and the Rest of the World: From Dependence to Sovereignty, and discusses his vision for a future centered around agriculture, investment, and robust governance.

How would you summarize your experience as Commissioner of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, from which you have just departed?

After three and a half dynamic years at the Commission overseeing agriculture, water resources, and environmental matters, I am returning to academic life. To achieve sustainable self-sufficiency, we need to produce and consume our agricultural products. The survival of our planet hinges on our dedication to preserving natural ecosystems. Consequently, the state of our environment—encompassing both water and air—is fundamentally essential for life.

I have completed two terms at the Commission. My first term spanned from 2009 to 2012, during which I led economic analysis and research. We developed the UEMOA-2020 Vision, addressing vital areas. Subsequently, I returned to implement foundational strategies. I was acutely aware of the urgent challenges, particularly those concerning the initiatives I introduced, which will continue to be relevant, especially the reassessment of the Commission’s agricultural policy—a critical issue given the resurgence of regional blocs.

What key factors should be emphasized to realize the ‘African dream’?

Five essential factors must be prioritized: labor, capital, technological advancements, governance quality, and institutional integrity.

The latest Business Ready report from the World Bank, published in October, highlights Rwanda as Africa’s leading reforming nation. Togo stands out in West Africa and ranks fifth economically on the continent. However, the results are significantly varied according to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with some countries making more remarkable progress than others.

These advancements involve not only economic success but also equitable wealth distribution to ensure no major segment of the population is left behind. From this viewpoint, I observe a movement toward global issue standardization.

In this context, the neo-liberal globalization model increasingly cultivates exclusion. We witnessed this in Britain with Brexit, in the United States during Donald Trump’s administration, and similarly in Africa.

For a long time, the welfare state provided compensation for such exclusions in wealthier nations. However, we now see a gradual dismantling of the welfare state in the North. Since Africa has never established a welfare state, the current period is critical for creating systems capable of managing the societal shocks we confront.

Which sectors ought to be prioritized for prosperity?

I propose a focus on three primary sectors: first, agriculture. We have abundant land and a youthful demographic. There are no valid reasons for not progressing in agriculture.

The second initiative is the implementation of a Marshall Plan for Africa, involving significant investments in transition—especially in ecological transition.

The third focus should be on ensuring coherence among the state, territory, and society. Our governance must become more inclusive and center on accountability. We need to communicate to society how public funds are utilized, the direction we are taking, and cultivate a cooperative relationship where citizens become partners in the journey towards what I term shared prosperity. I would like to reference Professor Joseph Ki-Zerbo at the start of my book: ‘If we lie down, we are dead.’ We must collaboratively carve the paths to shared prosperity.

How will these factors influence Africa’s success or failure?

The predominant factor is agriculture, notably the agro-ecological intensification of production systems. The Russia-Ukraine crisis has highlighted that governments cannot maintain subsidies for chemical fertilizers when the price of a ton of potash has surged four times within just six months. With 500 million hectares of arable land and a billion young people, utilizing their potential through agriculture can address numerous issues related to food security, job creation, and reducing import costs. Take Senegal, for example: while the country imports a large quantity of rice, it successfully cultivates it in Casamance!

The second critical area is significant investment in ecological transition. Africa is home to the Congo Basin forest, often referred to as the planet’s second ‘lung’. We must not allow this essential resource to degrade. International collaboration should focus on financing ecological transitions in Africa; this initiative ought to be viewed not as charity but as investments rooted in environmental solidarity.

Finally, the third paramount concern is governance. Current crises indicate we are reaching the limits of the independence consensus, particularly the principle of the inviolability of borders established during colonial times. In response to jihadist movements, there is an urgent need for territorial reconfiguration. This necessitates a novel vision and governance model, as well as a more localized approach to devising solutions. It’s evident that formal democracies are deteriorating globally.

Africa faces internal challenges such as jihadism and trafficking. How can these issues be addressed without significant resources?

Political scientist Bertrand Badie refers to an ‘imported state’. It’s essential to remember that our states are only about 75 years old!

As a result, these states encounter immense transaction costs due to diverse populations that have not voluntarily formed. This situation consumes considerable time and energy; against the backdrop of jihadism threats, even expansive nation-states find themselves with limited financial resources.

There is a critical need to reconfigure the interaction among the state, territory, and society. Thus, regional integration propelled by military, civilian, and leadership forces becomes vital. This is where our primary focus lies.

How can your ideas be made actionable?

It’s a cultural struggle. Educating a billion young Africans that they have the power to change their situations is no easy feat. The first step toward success here is building confidence. It’s crucial to remember that colonization’s most profound impact was the ‘inferiorization’ of the African people.

Essentially, the lingering mentality is that we are not entirely capable of asserting our sovereignty in all aspects. I have invested significant effort in clarifying the issues surrounding the CFA currency, illustrating that we can liberate ourselves from voluntary servitude by recalling our pre-colonial monetary history.

This is an ongoing battle. When engaging in such a cultural conflict, three elements must continually be kept in mind: vision, governance methodologies, and the establishment of solid monitoring and evaluation systems. These components are essential. Progress is inherently dynamic, emerging from processes rather than static conditions.

We are witnessing the strong demand for emancipation from Africa’s youth. Their expectation of us, as leaders, is to safeguard the common good and prioritize the general interest. This emphasizes the challenge we face, as we often lack the capacity to elucidate reforms. It is critical to have leaders who are dedicated to the common good and the public interest. They must also be capable of clearly communicating reforms and explaining to the youth what is happening in their societies.

This is why I explore the notion of ‘pan-Africanism of withdrawal’ in my book. The first phase can involve confronting the established order. We must work together and co-create with others. Africa is not isolated; interdependent relationships are essential for charting its future, moving beyond the dependence characterized by the primary integration of African economies into global trade.