APM President Kouyateh: Dangotization Can Turn Africa’s Resources into Jobs, Wealth

APM President Kouyateh: Dangotization Can Turn Africa’s Resources into Jobs, Wealth

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The President of the African Peoples’ Movement (APM), Sheikh Al-moustapha Kouyateh, has called for a new economic approach that would enable African countries to transform their abundant natural resources into jobs, wealth and sustainable development, rather than continue exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

Kouyateh said the continent must embrace what he described as “Dangotization,” an economic transformation agenda focused on production, industrialisation, technology, value addition and African ownership.

He said Africa’s continued dependence on the export of unprocessed commodities had deprived the continent of huge economic opportunities that could be harnessed through local manufacturing and industrial development.

“We reject dependency. We reject the idea that Africa must only sell raw materials and buy back finished goods,” he said.

According to the APM president, Dangotization represents a shift from an economy that primarily exports raw materials to one that processes, manufactures and adds value to its own resources.

He said African countries must establish and strengthen industries capable of processing agricultural products, minerals and other natural resources into finished and semi-finished goods.

Kouyateh said such an approach would create employment opportunities for millions of young Africans while strengthening local businesses and reducing the continent’s dependence on imported products.

He also called for greater economic integration among African countries, stressing that improved infrastructure, regional trade and common standards would be necessary to support increased production and movement of goods across the continent.

“We will connect regions through trade, infrastructure, and shared standards — so Africa produces for Africa,” he said.

The APM president said African governments must also invest in skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship if the continent is to build industries capable of competing in the global economy.

He argued that Africa’s youthful population should be treated as an economic asset by equipping young people with the technical knowledge, skills and opportunities required to participate meaningfully in productive activities.

Kouyateh further stressed the importance of African ownership, saying Africans should not remain limited to providing labour or consuming products manufactured elsewhere.

“We will ensure African ownership and fair participation, so development benefits those who live here,” he said.

He said Africans must have meaningful participation in the ownership and management of industries and enterprises that utilise the continent’s resources.

According to him, economic growth should be reflected in improved living standards, employment, stronger businesses and increased opportunities for ordinary citizens.

Kouyateh also advocated an inclusive approach to economic development, saying persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups must be given opportunities to participate fully in the continent’s economic transformation.

“In that prosperity, there will be no exclusion: development must be accessible, disability-inclusive, and designed so disabled people can participate fully,” he said.

He said inclusive development should provide persons with disabilities with access to education, employment, entrepreneurship and other economic opportunities.

The APM president maintained that Africa could generate significantly greater economic value by processing its resources locally before exporting them.

He said agricultural commodities, solid minerals and other natural resources should increasingly be transformed into finished and semi-finished products within Africa.

Such a strategy, he argued, would help create jobs, expand local industries, increase government revenue and reduce the pressure created by dependence on imported goods.

Kouyateh said the ultimate objective of Dangotization was to build an Africa that could produce, process and innovate for itself while developing the capacity to compete effectively in international markets.

He said the continent had the natural resources, human capital and growing markets required to achieve economic transformation if African countries could move decisively towards production and value creation.

He summed up the philosophy behind his call for Dangotization in a simple message.