Nigeria, Dec. 24 -- In a recent interview granted by Dr Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, on the African Renaissance Podcast in South Africa, he spoke on a wide range of issues. He touched on the posture of the United States towards Africa under President Trump, the controversial genocide accusations against South Africa and Nigeria, and broader questions about how Africa should engage with the world.

What stood out most for me, however, was his reflection on how African countries consistently negotiate with the West and China from their weakest positions. Listening to him, I found myself framing his argument as what I would call a Pan-African Economic Negotiation Model. It struck me deeply, and I believe it is an idea Afric...