Gambiaj.com – (Washington, D.C.) – Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has called on the United States to move beyond traditional aid and embrace a new era of economic partnerships with Africa. Speaking at the Atlantic Council during his inaugural lesson, Sall emphasized that Africa is no longer a passive recipient of international assistance but a continent ready for mutually beneficial investment and industrial collaboration.

Sall framed his address as a message of hope and strategic vision, urging the U.S. to recognize Africa as a vital global partner. He highlighted the continent’s immense economic potential, citing its abundant natural resources, including rare earths and critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.

“Africa has the most important mineral resources,” Sall stated. “All the minerals we need to ensure an energy transition are found on the continent. We need a renewed framework that will allow value-added investment and employment creation.”

With Africa’s population projected to grow from 1.4 billion today to 2.5 billion by 2050, Sall stressed that the continent is too large to rely on aid alone. Instead, he called for mechanisms that develop capital markets and foster joint ventures between African and American businesses.

“Africa is no longer in a perspective of reaching out,” he declared. “We are no longer in a logic of public help to development because help cannot provide the answers expected by Africans.”

Positioning Africa as an emerging economic force, Sall urged the United States to anticipate its growing global role and take proactive steps toward building lasting partnerships. He framed this approach as a “win-win” strategy, where both Africa and the U.S. stand to benefit from deeper trade, infrastructure, and industrial collaboration.

His remarks also carried a direct appeal to the incoming Trump administration, signaling that African leaders expect a shift in U.S. policy toward more substantial economic engagement.

As global economic landscapes evolve, Sall’s message underscores Africa’s determination to define its own growth trajectory—one rooted in investment, innovation, and equal partnerships rather than dependency on external aid.