Africa must drive its own development agenda, says Prime Minister Nsengiyumva

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Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said African countries must take the lead in driving the continent’s development, stressing the need for self-reliance and local solutions amid growing global uncertainties.

Nsengiyumva said this on Tuesday, February 20, while participating virtually in the 43rd session of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

“We meet at a time of increasing global uncertainty, characterized by changing geopolitical dynamics, limited resources, and increasing pressure on multilateral systems,” said Nsengiyumva, who represented President Paul Kagame.

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“In moments like these, one truth becomes clear: the most sustainable and transformative solutions must come from within our continent.”

He said partnerships are important, but African countries must contribute more.

“Africa must therefore remain steadfast in advancing its own development agenda. Although partnerships remain important and welcome, external contributions should not far exceed those of member states.

“This is central to the African Union’s reform agenda and our shared commitment to ownership and self-reliance.”

The meeting, which was chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Chairman of the outgoing Steering Committee, was attended by Angolan President João Lourenço, President of the African Union, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Chairman of the African Union Commission, and other leaders.

Nsengiyumva praised the efforts of the African Union Development Agency to promote Africa’s financial independence, citing initiatives such as the Alliance of African Multilateral Finance Institutions, the proposed African Development Fund, and the 5 percent pension fund agenda, as well as stronger engagement with the private sector.

He said that these measures are essential to building a flexible and independent financial structure for the continent.

The Prime Minister said that Rwanda, as the African Union champion for local health financing, welcomed the continued progress in regional health initiatives.

He noted that regional health financing centers operate across the East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), SADC, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

“These centers support Member States through technical assistance and national dialogues that enhance domestic resource mobilization and accountability,” he said, urging the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities to institutionalize these centers with dedicated staff and sustainable budgets.

The Prime Minister also welcomed innovations in healthcare, including the Collaborating Center for Health Market Development under the PIFAH and Horizon 1000 initiatives. The initiative is supported by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI.

“If implemented effectively, these innovations can improve efficiency, address workforce shortages and expand access to healthcare across the continent,” he noted.

Nsengiyumva also acknowledged the continued operation of the Kigali-based African Medicines Agency, saying it “represents an important milestone in strengthening continental coordination in medicines regulation and safety, and strengthening our collective efforts to combat substandard medicines.”