One is best served by oneself. Africa has finally understood this. It is in this spirit that Colonel Randrianirina traveled to Botswana. This trip is part of the search for new trading partners. Botswana, a diamond producer, is the seventh richest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and the third largest economic power in Southern Africa in terms of GDP per capita, estimated at 7,500 to 7,800 dollars (compared to 456 to 599 dollars for Madagascar). It is therefore a partner of choice.
This is also the spirit of the Alamein Africa Forum organized in Egypt with about twenty African leaders. For three days, they reflected on how to develop intra-African trade. Both initiatives are in line with the objectives of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development), created on July 11, 2001, by five countries—South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and Senegal—during the African Union summit in Lusaka. Fifty-five countries have since joined.
NEPAD did not have the expected effects for various reasons, but the need for cooperation between African countries is unquestionable. The idea was, moreover, taken up by Colonel Gaddafi, who wanted to build a united Africa centered around an economic concept. The project never saw the light of day, as Gaddafi took the draft of the project with him.
For some years now, African countries have been reviving the idea through the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area). It is a common market bringing together 1.5 billion consumers across fifty-five countries. The AfCFTA came into force on May 30, 2019, but the start of trade was set for January 1, 2021, with varying degrees of success. Simply because some countries believe they have nothing to gain from this system.
Madagascar is one of them and took time to ratify it. The industrial sector was reluctant, given that the trade balance remains clearly in deficit as long as we do not produce what we need, and that the AfCFTA will only widen the gap between imports and exports. This is not wrong; however, Madagascar could find interests in IT jobs.
But nothing is certain, since we are unable to produce toothpicks or needles. That says it all. Without a processing industry, we risk not being able to compete in this exchange.
This is all the more true because, from the moment we wake up, we drink coffee from Brazil or Cuba, spread French butter on our bread, wear clothes made in China or Vietnam, wear German (Adidas), Italian (Tod’s), French (Weston), or American (Nike) shoes, parade with a Korean (Samsung) or American (iPhone) phone, ride in an American (Cadillac), German (Porsche), or Chinese (BYD) car, use a Chinese (Lenovo), American (HP), or Taiwanese (Asus) computer, and marry people of all nationalities.
For the moment, sovereignty remains at the level of rhetoric and is still a mirage. But between self-service and all-out politics, there is not much difference.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-05 06:23:57 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/self-service.html