Jeffrey Sachs: Only a unified African Union can break the legacy of imperialism
Global economist Professor Jeffrey Sachs has called for a stronger, united African Union, saying the continent’s fragmented political structure, a legacy of colonialism, continues to undermine its geopolitical influence in the global arena.
Responding to a question about whether Africa can overcome the enduring effects of imperialism without continental unity, Sachs emphasised the necessity of collective strength.
“Unity is absolutely essential. Africa has 1.4 billion people. China has 1.4 billion. India has 1.4 billion. But Africa is 55 countries, not by choice, but because that’s how the imperialists divided the continent,” Sachs told Global South World.
By contrast, Sachs explained, China and India retained their unity due to different colonial trajectories. China was never fully colonised, and India remained under a single imperial power, Britain. This, he argues, has enabled them to develop cohesive national strategies and global leverage, something Africa still struggles to achieve.
“I want Africa to speak with the voice of 1.4 billion people,” he said. “By mid-century, Africa will have a larger population than India and China. It must have its voice heard at that scale.”
Sachs warned that Africa’s division into 55 states allows external powers, including the United States, to continue a “divide and conquer” approach that weakens Africa’s geopolitical clout.
In recent years, Sachs has been an outspoken advocate for the African Union’s elevation to a global decision-making role. His efforts contributed to the AU becoming the 21st member of the G20, a milestone he now urges African leaders to fully capitalise on.
