Kalimbwe Criticises African Leaders for Preferring Summits Abroad Over African Soil

Zambian activist Joseph Kalimbwe has taken aim at African leaders, accusing them of prioritising international platforms over hosting meaningful discussions on the continent.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kalimbwe contrasted the attendance figures of major summits in recent years.

50 African leaders attended the 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.

51 leaders went to the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.

Yet, in 2023, only three African leaders came to Lusaka for a summit on Africa itself.

Kalimbwe said this trend reflects misplaced priorities, arguing that Africa’s challenges should be debated and resolved within Africa rather than in foreign capitals.

“African leaders would rather discuss Africa issues in DC than on African soil in Lusaka,” he wrote.