The world has changed. African countries must rethink how they grow their economies

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have exposed how vulnerable African economies are to geopolitical shocks, The Conversation Africa reports. Six countries — Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda — depend heavily on Middle Eastern fuel, and elevated prices are straining their industrialization plans. The traditional development path that worked for East Asia — moving workers from subsistence farming into manufacturing jobs — is no longer viable for Africa: automation has eliminated the low-skill factory jobs that once drove growth, China still dominates low-wage production, and global trade has become a geopolitical weapon. To create millions of productive jobs, African countries need to integrate their markets, invest in reliable electricity, and develop industries around their natural resources and agricultural advantages.

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