Africa Seeks Partnership, Not Aid: AU Chairperson Calls for Co-Created Solutions with U.S.

At the high-level #USAfricaSummit2025 held in Luanda, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, delivered a powerful message reaffirming Africa’s commitment to a bold and equal partnership with the United States. In a statement that resonated across diplomatic and business circles, he declared: 

“We’re not seeking aid, but building co-created solutions.” 

Addressing an audience of global leaders, investors, and African changemakers, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasized that the continent is home to 1.3 billion people with vast natural resources and a rising wave of innovation that is ready for transformative growth. He highlighted key sectors driving Africa’s momentum, from agribusiness in West Africa to fintech in East Africa, underlining the AU’s strong support for private sector-led development across all regions. 

The AU Chairperson also invited U.S. stakeholders to invest strategically in sectors such as manufacturing, digital infrastructure, energy, and agro-industry. He spotlighted AU-led initiatives like the Private Sector Forum, the continent-wide SME and startup legislation, and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy as pillars that are laying the groundwork for inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

“This should not just be a summit, but a call to action,” he concluded. “Together, let’s walk the pathways to prosperity with unity, purpose, and Agenda 2063 as our guide.”

The summit marked a critical moment in reimagining U.S.–Africa relations, shifting the narrative from donor-recipient to equal partners in progress. With Africa’s youthful population and growing innovation ecosystem, leaders from both continents were urged to seize this moment to co-create opportunities that benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic.