BRICS+ Must Not Miss Africa’s Opportunity
The current ten member countries of BRICS+ are among the most capable of understanding the feelings of economic and political injustice that Africans have suffered over the years. Many, including the three African countries—South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia—are well aware of the catastrophic consequences of colonialism and exploitation, and the difficulties of achieving prosperity for millions while bearing unbearable debt burdens, as well as the inequalities that are a fundamental part of the global financial system.
These ties have helped foster closer relationships between BRICS+ members and African countries over the past two decades. Over the last fifteen years, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner, with the total annual trade volume now estimated to be about $295 billion. Trade between the continent and other BRICS+ members has also increased, reaching $83 billion with India in 2024 and over $21 billion with Brazil in 2023.
These relationships have driven many African countries toward industrialization. However, only South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco have succeeded in developing any significant industrial capacity. The rest of the continent faces three main barriers: a huge energy gap, unmanageable debt burdens, and worsening impacts from climate change. To overcome these obstacles, Africa must work to develop a strategic partnership with BRICS+. This partnership could yield mutually beneficial outcomes, including economic growth and shared prosperity.
The timing is right. Now more than ever, Africa is facing pressures affecting growth, as evidenced by the population explosion of working-age citizens. Simultaneously, BRICS+ is at a critical juncture as it seeks to establish itself on the global stage, develop a new form of reciprocity-based multilateralism, expand the New Development Bank, and accept more members. The group is attempting to do all this while navigating sensitive relationships with the United States.
A strategic partnership with Africa would enable the BRICS+ bloc to strengthen its vision of a world where all countries are respected and work together to solve common problems and pursue green development. However, to drive growth, its members must become engaged investors, not just creditors. They must also assist African countries in addressing the barriers to their development, particularly the crises of energy and debt.
To this end, China, as one of the strongest BRICS+ members and a global leader in clean energy, can help Africa harness its abundant renewable energy potential. The continent is home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources, yet it only utilizes 1% of installed solar capacity. In contrast, 64% of the total renewable capacity added last year was installed in China, which accounts for 60% of global output in green technology sectors and dominates solar supply chains. As part of the strategic partnership with Africa, China and other BRICS+ countries can engage in establishing clean technology manufacturing and assembly plants on the continent. This could create new markets for renewable energy sources while also reducing energy costs for Africans.
Debt relief is also an important issue. Sovereign debt restructuring processes have lacked efficiency and effectiveness because powerful bilateral and multilateral creditors have been unable to agree on how to manage them. Improving these processes requires goodwill. China has shown that this is possible when it forgave $3.4 billion in African debt, in addition to 23 interest-free loans to seventeen African countries.
Moreover, BRICS+ countries could oversee the creation of a multilateral framework specifically designed for low-income countries, aimed at bringing together all categories of creditors, including private bondholders and multilateral development banks. This would also facilitate market creation and boost geopolitical ties between bloc members and African countries—foundations for a prosperous future for all.
With the right strategic partners, Africa can become immensely wealthy in a short period. The BRICS+ bloc should begin laying the groundwork for this geopolitical and economic alliance with the continent at its upcoming summit in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil, as the current chair, and South Africa, as the first African member of the group, must ensure that the African partnership is at the top of the agenda.
From a practical perspective, deepening cooperation with African countries will yield economic benefits for BRICS+ members in the future. More importantly, this collaboration will signal the bloc’s desire to provide equitable opportunities for the global South overall.
