For the first time, our continent's most pressing and often controversial development issues were not relegated to the sidelines but placed squarely at the heart of the agenda of the G20 group of nations. This diplomatic victory is, however, merely a prelude. The true legacy of this G20 Presidency will be determined not in meeting rooms, but by the actions we, as African policymakers, take in its wake. The global platform has been secured now, we must build our continental future upon it.
The G20 dialogue successfully amplified three systemic challenges that have long constrained Africa's economic potential:
The discussions moved beyond acknowledging the problem to outlining a potential solution. Illicit financial flows IFFs are a persistent drain on our economies, siphoning away an estimated 88.6bn annually - a figure that far surpasses the official development assistance we receive.