In a recent publication entitled 'La Pensée de MK N°109-2026,' Maurice Kamto, President of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), issued a strong call for Africa to reconsider its place in international relations. He openly criticizes the diplomatic model he calls '1+54,' where a single non-African country organizes summits in which the 54 African states participate in search of subsidies.
Kamto believes that this model perpetuates an image of a dependent and begging Africa, incapable of taking care of itself. To get out of what he considers a 'shameful spectacle,' he proposes two main levers: a political lever and a power lever.
The political lever, according to Kamto, involves the rapid creation of several federal states with a view to a continental federation. He envisions an Africa transformed into a group of regional federal states, capable of resisting external pressures and defending their strategic interests. This vision is part of a long-term pan-African perspective, aimed at ensuring collective sovereignty and security.
The power lever, meanwhile, is based on a synergy of efforts in various fields, including economic, security and defense. Kamto stresses the need for Africa to cease being seen as a mere land of economic opportunity to be exploited, but rather as a major player to be respected on the world stage.
This bold proposal by Maurice Kamto comes at a time when regional integration in Africa is often seen as lagging. Kamto is not alone in thinking this way, and his call reignites the debate on strategies to be adopted to enable Africa to play a more influential role in the world.
It should be noted that Kamto has in the past stressed the need for Africa to make sacrifices for its development, insisting that no lasting progress can be achieved without effort and without breaking with certain political practices.
The crucial question remains as to which region of the continent will take the initiative in this political and power construction, and how the feasibility challenges, particularly in economic and budgetary terms, will be overcome.
In conclusion, Maurice Kamto's call for a radical transformation of Africa's relations with the rest of the world highlights the crucial issues facing the continent on this May 25, 2026.
