By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, Cameroon – In a compelling discussion on the Beyond Africa Podcast, Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa, Regional Director, and Special Adviser to the President at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), has highlighted the critical importance of good governance, democracy, and diaspora inclusion as key pillars for Africa’s development.
Dr Fomunyoh emphasized that the pathway to a prosperous Africa must be paved with robust democratic institutions, transparent leadership, and active participation from the African diaspora. According to him, these elements are not just desirable but essential for sustainable growth, peace, and stability on the continent.
“It is a continent of 1.4 billion people. It’s projected that in the next 20 or 30 years, Africa will contribute to 25% of the world’s population. It’s a continent that’s rich in mineral resources and human capital,” Dr Fomunyoh remarked during the podcast.
“We are the only human race, that’s got a diaspora that’s found on every continent on the surface of the earth. So, Africa, for me, is unique, and it has a place and a pivotal role to play in the future of the globe. And that’s why I feel very passionate about it because I see the challenges, but I also see a lot of opportunities.”
The Role of the African Diaspora
In his conversation, Dr. Fomunyoh also expounded on the crucial role of the African diaspora in shaping the continent’s future. He praised the African diaspora for its contributions in various fields, from remittances that boost local economies to the knowledge and skills they bring from countries abroad. He urged African governments to create more inclusive policies that recognize and leverage the potential of their citizens living overseas.
“No, I do not share that view,” Dr Fomunyoh stressed in response to the question of Africans who abroad do not think or do not work hard for the transformation of the continent. “I can also tell you that deep down to a person, each one of those Africans is attached to their homeland. Each one of those Africans, if given the opportunity, would strive to make a difference, to make their countries or the continent a better place.”
“When you look at the financial remittances that Africans send to the continent every year, and this is documented by the World Bank in its multiple reports on migration and development, for 2023 alone, the remittances of Africans towards the continent or into the continent accounted for 100 billion U.S. dollars. 100 billion U.S. dollars is more than all of the overall development assistance that Africa receives from developed countries.
“The diaspora alone is a key constituency that’s contributing to the development of the continent. And that’s only coming about because Africans in the diaspora hold very dearly to the well-being of the continent and its future. I think that if the opportunities were to arise, that every African that’s in the diaspora would find a way either to relocate or to make a meaningful contribution to the development of their country and the continent as a whole,” Dr Fomunyoh stressed.
The Influence of Global Powers
Dr Fomunyoh also touched on the significant roles that global powers like the United States and China play in Africa’s development. He explained that while external relationships with these global players are vital, African governments must approach these partnerships with the long-term interests of their citizens in mind.
“Accountability and transparency are important, even when you want to invest in development and infrastructure because ultimately, that’s what is going to maximize the investments that even you, China, are making. And that would be the kind of conversation that I would have with the Chinese if I were to have a sit down with them to talk about their approach to the African continent,” Dr Fomunyoh noted.
“My hope going forward is that as superpowers, whether it’s China or the United States or Russia or countries in the Middle East or India and Brazil and other countries that want to engage with the African continent, Japan, South Korea, they’re most welcome. But they have to know that the African man and woman should be the centrality of focus in its totality, not just in terms of material needs, but also in terms of their rights and their ability to live in free societies and to maximize the talent, their God-given talent.”
“There are legitimate grievances and there are political grievances that must be addressed politically,” Dr Fomunyoh said concerning the ongoing conflict in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon. “And I believe that from day one, from the get-go, if there was an understanding on the part of the government of Cameroon that these grievances needed to be tackled in detail, thoroughly, as a political issue that will have saved ourselves and the country the tragedy and the destruction that we’ve gone through in the past seven years. It’s tragic.”
“I hope that ultimately, those negotiations are going to have to happen, that we’re going to have to go down through verifying the root causes of this conflict, and that a holistic solution would have to be taken that would include freedom for people that have been arrested unduly or solely because of their advocacy on behalf of the people of what used to be West Cameroon or former British Southern Cameroons or what some of our brothers and sisters call today Ambazonia.”
As African countries continue to grapple with challenges such as political instability, economic hardship, and the effects of global competition, Dr Fomunyoh’s acumens offer a roadmap to a perkier future – one where democracy, governance, and the Diaspora serve as critical engines of progress for the African continent.
