Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called on African nations to take advantage of the growing shift toward global multipolarity, urging the continent to position itself as a central actor in shaping a more just and balanced world order.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Summer Davos Forum 2025 in Tianjin, China, Sonko told China Media Group that “the international system is undergoing a structural transformation toward greater balance and multilateralism.” He emphasized that traditional global powers—long accustomed to shaping international rules in their favor—are now gradually disengaging from those same rules, as global dynamics evolve.
“This moment presents a historic opportunity for Africa,” Sonko said. “We must not be passive observers—we must act decisively to assert our voice and define our own path within this emerging multipolar framework.”
The Senegalese premier criticized recent U.S. tariff hikes on key trade partners, describing them as an extension of unilateral policies that continue to reflect hegemonic tendencies. He also pointed to the growing role of the Global South, particularly through the BRICS bloc, in advancing a more equitable international order.
“BRICS is no longer just a counterbalance—it is becoming a platform for structural alternatives to the Western-led economic system,” Sonko said. “Africa must engage fully with these shifts and move from the margins to the center of global decision-making.”
The 2025 Summer Davos Forum, officially known as the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions, took place in late June in Tianjin and brought together over 1,700 leaders from more than 90 countries. Held under the theme “Entrepreneurship in the Age of Transformation,” the forum focused on emerging technologies, economic resilience, and sustainable innovation.
Sonko’s remarks echo a growing sentiment among African leaders pushing for a recalibration of the continent’s global alliances amid changing geopolitical landscapes. As competition between major powers intensifies, voices like Sonko’s signal a more assertive African posture in shaping the global agenda.
