For the 21st century to become “Africa’s century”, it would require strong political leadership from the top—leadership that is committed and capable of mobilizing the population around a common “national project.” In the coming decades, African leaders have to build on the gains of recent years by strengthening democratic governance, investing in people and in critical infrastructure, and in building effective state institutions to drive the structural transformation agenda. Looking ahead toward 2063, a lot is at stake for the African Union and its member states. There is no room for mistakes or reckless leadership. Consciousness among the current generation is high and they are confident that they are in a position to determine their future and to build a democratic society. Their message to the current generation of African political leaders is the following: “If the leaders fail to lead, then the people must be prepared to lead!” The challenge for the AU in the coming decades is how to inspire our people and to embark on a process of “self- discovery”—to believe that we alone can transform Africa for Africans.
