Neocolonialism, imperialism and agents
Description
Neocolonialism and imperialism have evolved into complex networks of economic control, where decisions made outside the continent continue to determine the pace and direction of its development. It is not only foreign influence that we need to worry about, but the internal structures as well and individuals that allow these forces to persist.
Across ministries, banks, universities, media houses and NGOs, there are Africans who either protect these arrangements or have learned to depend on them. Sometimes it is done knowingly, sometimes out of habit or the belief that there is no other way. The systems in place reward loyalty to the global order, not to local needs. And so the cycle continues. Aid is welcomed while local industries collapse, policies are praised abroad while people at home grow more disillusioned and African voices are silenced unless they echo what outsiders already believe.
The real challenge now, is no longer only about identifying external pressures, but also acknowledging how African actors, support the very arrangements that hold the continent back. This is not a comfortable subject, but it is a necessary one. What is happening needs to be exposed and a push for a shift in how we approach development and accountability needs to be emphasised.
There is a reluctance to speak plainly about how deep this goes. To name the agents involved, to challenge the logic that keeps Africa waiting for approval, resources and permission. But without that honesty, nothing will change. The path to real independence does not lie in speeches or handshakes, but in dismantling the networks of influence - both foreign and local - that keep Africa tied to someone else’s vision of progress.
We are not dealing with passive outcomes but with active systems that can be unlearned, restructured and replaced. A future where Africa determines its own direction is possible, but it will require clarity, coordination and a new way of thinking that cuts through the distractions and gets to the root of the matter.
Summary
Foreign interests and domestic collaboration continue to drive Africa’s development in ways that favour outside powers. The influence is usually framed as support or partnership, but its effect is dependency. Beneath the language of partnership, there are various systems ranging from trade to education that keeps African countries economically dependent and politically restrained. The terms are set elsewhere. And too often, those terms are accepted at home without question. Because of this, these structures continue to thrive.
Many of the systems that define African economies today: trade, debt, health, education, media, do not serve the people they claim to help. They serve those who designed them. And while foreign powers may have built the frame, it is our African elites who keep the machinery running. Through policy, silence, or personal gain, they help protect a system that strips the continent of power while pretending to uplift it. As long as both foreign and local agents continue to prioritise foreign interests, the cycle will continue.
The problem is not a lack of ideas or resources. It is a refusal to challenge the logic that says Africa cannot stand on its own. But that logic is false. The real work now is to unlearn dependency, to call out the agents, both local and foreign, who benefit from it and to build systems that reflect African priorities. That shift begins with clarity and with accountability that starts at home.
We are calling for a rethink of how we understand power, influence and responsibility. We are encouraging policymakers and intellectuals to push beyond surface-level reforms and to deal directly with the structural logic of neocolonial systems. Doing so will enable Africa to begin building policies that favour its people, use its resources wisely and develop on its own terms.
