development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) joined policymakers, development experts, academics, diplomatic representatives, and civil society actors from across Africa at the Panel Discussion and Study Lunch organised by Trust Africa and Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa in Abuja on April 10, 2026.

The high-level engagement brought together representatives from ECOWAS, embassies, universities, and Trust Africa partners to deliberate on Africa’s shifting political and economic realities, while also launching the study titled *Power Building in Africa (April 2026)*.

Delivering the keynote address, Abdoulie Janneh warned that ongoing global crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions in the Middle East, trade disruptions, and the weakening of multilateral systems, continue to divert global attention away from pressing African conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, and the DRC.

Janneh urged African leaders and institutions to strengthen intra-African trade, prioritize African interests in global engagements, and build mechanisms capable of responding to emerging crises on the continent. He further challenged Africans to build stronger collective voices capable of defending the continent’s interests globally.

For dRPC, the event provided an important platform for engagement on issues of African agency, social movement financing, institutional resilience, and long-term development planning across the continent.

The panel session featured contributions from Hakim Ben Hammouda, Dauda Garuba, Sibongile Mkhabela, and Marwa El-Day, who emphasized the need for stronger African institutions, long-term strategic planning, and deeper commitment to continental cooperation frameworks such as AfCFTA.

The launch of *Power Building in Africa (April 2026)*, anchored by Briggs Bomba, also highlighted the urgent need for African-led funding systems, resistance movements, and accessible convening spaces that encourage collaboration, reflection, and strategic action across the continent.

During the discussions, Terry, Knowledge and Management Officer at Trust Africa, alongside Anna Masika, emphasized that meaningful support for African social movements must extend beyond financial resources to include solidarity, trust, partnership, and shared purpose.