Thinking about security at Africa Week 2025
Claire Quinn
Professor Claire Quinn is a Professor in Natural Resource Management in the School of Earth and Environment. In the wake of this year's Africa Week, Claire discusses her key takeaways from Africa Week activities in Pretoria.
Africa Week is a biennial science leadership summit hosted by Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, to commemorate Africa Day.
Africa Day occurs during Africa Week and is a commemoration of the founding of the African Union (originally the Organisation of African Unity) in 1963. The Organisation of African Unity was originally established to move the continent past colonialism and apartheid –enabling countries on the continent to safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity through cooperation for development. Since 2002, the African Union has worked to increase economic growth through cooperation. Agenda 2063 of the African Union sets out a 50-year vision for transformation on the African continent focused on peace, unity and economic growth.
I attended Africa Week to contribute to the University of Pretoria VC’s Roundtable ‘Collaboration in challenging times, on lessons learned from the Leeds-Pretoria Strategic Partnership’, and to moderate the panel discussion on food security.
Image credit: EYEscape
This years’ Africa Week was hosted with support from the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. It sought to bring together academics, government, business, civil society and the media to discuss the theme of ‘Global Security, Global Africa’.
The theme is pertinent given the rising uncertainty, insecurity and conflict being experienced globally. Insecurity not only has a direct impact on people’s lives, but also on livelihoods, food systems, the environment, research, education, and development. These impacts, how they are felt and by whom, are also influenced by gender, ethnicity and economics.
One key question was on everyone’s agenda this year: how does Africa respond to the significant global geopolitical shift currently underway, and does it represent a danger or an opportunity for Africa?
The answer was uncertain. There may be an opportunity in the face of increasing fracture in global governance for Africa to take greater control over research and innovation, economic development and governance on the continent. However, the concern was whether universities, organisations and governments have the capacity and expertise to do it.
“Ultimately, the overarching message of Africa Week 2025 was that without strong and professional leadership, investment in the next generation and implementation of practical and pragmatic solutions, the continent will miss the opportunity to ‘shape the world to come.”
For the Africa Week summit, the theme considered broader global security threats posed by pandemics, digital technologies such as AI, environmental degradation, climate change, economic shocks, geo-politics and food insecurity.
The keynote address that opened the summit was given by Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of the School of Oriental and African Studies. He was clear that the “fracturing of the Western alliance” could present an opportunity for Africa to develop its strategic autonomy and create better development options. However, Adam outlined how this will require a renewed focus on an African free trade area to strengthen markets, and a professionalisation of governance and diplomacy, as well as in the higher education sector.
Global political volatility was a critical issue that took centre stage in the discussions across all security threats. For example, discussions on climate and environmental security identified that major shifts in international funding means Africa’s ability to respond to crises, such as tropical cyclones, is at risk. In addition, knowledge security and research integrity are at risk from challenges to academic freedom.
The potential opportunities for Africa were also high on the agenda. For example, strengthening institutions on the continent could enable it to meet the challenge of designing a new world order for economic security through the G20 (Group of 20 intergovernmental forum that includes the African Union) and BRICs (Intergovernmental organisation of emerging market economies that includes South Africa).
Encouraging a new citizenship could counter the erosion in confidence in democracy that is undermining socio-political security. There was an emphasis on African agency, African solutions, as well as the youth dividend on the continent throughout. However, without investment, economic growth and opportunities, the youth dividend could become a critical flashpoint for greater insecurity.
Image credit: EYEscape
For me – representing the Strategic Partnership at the week’s events – the question was about the role of equitable and sustainable academic partnerships. There is an opportunity for UK universities to play a part in capacity building and investment in the next generation in Africa through collaboration which is locally focused and globally enabled. This will require us to work together with our African partners to develop a shared vision of the challenges, provide time and resources, and build collaboration and capacity at all levels - from individual to institution.
Ultimately, the overarching message of Africa Week 2025 was that without strong and professional leadership, investment in the next generation and implementation of practical and pragmatic solutions, the continent will miss the opportunity to ‘shape the world to come’.
Author
Claire Quinn
Professor in Natural Resource Management