By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
In less than 20 years, France may find itself in a position it could never have imagined, becoming the colony of its former colonies. As Russian President Vladimir Putin once put it, “I don’t even need to wage war against France. All I need is to liberate French-speaking black Africa, and France will collapse of its own accord, like rotten fruit.”
His words are powerful, and while one might argue they’re extreme, they reflect a growing sentiment about the future of global power dynamics. The potential within Africa is staggering. With abundant natural resources capable of fueling entire continents from Europe to Asia, Africa has the means to dominate the global stage. Yet, the obstacle is clear: weak leadership and a lack of unity.
“Africa’s soil has the potential to feed all of Europe, America, and Asia, but the only problem is their leaders,” Putin claimed. There’s truth in this observation. Despite the vast wealth Africa holds beneath its surface resources critical to the world, including materials used in nuclear weapons the continent remains deeply underdeveloped, and much of its potential remains untapped.
In fact, Africa is “a thousand times richer than subterranean Europe, but a thousand times poorer in development,” according to Putin. If African nations were to unite and create their own currency, the balance of power would shift dramatically. Europe, once the dominant force, might find itself migrating to Africa, rather than the other way around.
What is even more perplexing is the way the world, particularly Western powers like the USA and France, continue to label Africa as “poor” despite its massive wealth. The resources Africa holds are indispensable, yet the narrative of poverty persists, keeping the continent in a cycle of dependency and underdevelopment.
From my perspective, the trajectory is clear. Africa holds the cards for the future. If its leaders can look past their internal divisions and take charge of their immense resources, the global order as we know it could be turned upside down. In less than two decades, France could find itself in a position of utter vulnerability, no longer able to dictate the terms of global power.
The truth is, Africa’s future does not need Europe’s approval. The continent has the potential to rise and lead without relying on foreign powers. If this happens, we may witness a seismic shift in global geopolitics, one where former colonial powers are left to reckon with their own legacy.
