Why Africa Matters To Malaysia

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Africa matters to Malaysia not only because the continent itself is undergoing transformation, but because the global system is shifting in a way that elevates Africa’s centrality in future geopolitics, economics, and governance.
The international order is no longer defined solely by trans-Atlantic power or Asia-Pacific competition; instead, multiple regions are asserting agency, shaping policy outcomes and demanding structural reforms.
In this emerging multipolar landscape, Africa stands out, not as a region waiting for development assistance, but as a rising actor capable of influencing global political discourse, financial flows and technological pathways.
Over the past two years, Africa has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity to shape global narratives. From climate diplomacy to global supply-chain negotiations, African states have presented unified positions that resonate across the Global South.
Whether advocating for climate loss-and-damage funds, negotiating for fairer agricultural trade rules, or championing digital finance reforms, Africa’s role has evolved from reactive participation to strategic agenda-setting.
For Malaysia, a nation that has historically supported equitable development and post-colonial sovereignty, this evolution demands a reassessment of long-outdated assumptions and a recognition of Africa as a strategic partner with agency, not merely as a market or aid recipient.
Growing geopolitical power
Africa’s influence in global governance is growing. The African Union’s recent inclusion in major multilateral platforms, including the G20, is symbolic of a deeper structural shift: the acknowledgement that no global solution, whether related to food security, digital governance, climate policy or global finance, can succeed without African participation.
G20The continent holds the world’s largest voting bloc in international institutions, and its coordinated positions increasingly shape multilateral negotiations.
As developing nations push for fairer trade rules, meaningful technology transfer and more equitable global financing mechanisms, Africa’s diplomatic leadership makes it a natural anchor for broader Global South coalitions.
Malaysia, with its history in the Non-Aligned Movement and shared stance on development justice, finds alignment here.
Economically, Africa presents Malaysia with opportunities across three interconnected tiers: emerging markets, resource-based value chains, and technological innovation ecosystems.
Opportunities abound
The first dimension - emerging markets - is driven by rising income levels, fast-growing urbanisation and demographic expansion.
Africa’s population is projected to surpass 2.5 billion by 2050, with a median age under 25. This youthful demographic profile means rising consumption demand in telecommunications, food production, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and digital services.
Malaysian companies in halal food processing, Islamic finance, agritech or agricultural technology, medical tourism, manufacturing, and logistics can capitalise on these trends, especially when first-mover trust is still available.
The second dimension, resource chain integration, is tied to Africa’s pivotal role in green energy transition. The world is accelerating toward electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and battery-dependent infrastructure.
A Proton e.MAS 7 electric carAfrica holds significant reserves of the critical minerals required to make this possible: cobalt, lithium, platinum, and rare-earth elements.
Malaysia’s ambitions in renewable energy technology, EV component manufacturing and semiconductor ecosystem resilience cannot be isolated from Africa’s resource landscape.
Building structured, ethical, and transparent supply-chain partnerships today would allow Malaysia to secure long-term sustainability goals while avoiding the geopolitical vulnerability associated with the over-concentration of mineral supply.
The third economic dimension, and perhaps the most overlooked, is innovation.
Africa has become a global leader in digital finance adoption. Fintech ecosystems such as Kenya’s M-Pesa have demonstrated models of mass-scale financial inclusion that even developed economies study today.
The continent’s leapfrogging into mobile banking, blockchain-enabled remittances, and AI-assisted agricultural platforms reflects a rapid adoption curve.
For Malaysia, Africa offers both a partnership opportunity and a scalable innovation frontier, making it an ideal context to expand investments in its digital economy blueprint, cybersecurity governance, and fintech regulatory frameworks.
Rather than exporting outdated systems, Malaysia can co-develop frameworks that respond to real-world deployment environments.
Shared roots
Beyond economics, Africa’s relevance to Malaysia extends into cultural and civilisational spheres. Shared Islamic identity links Malaysia with North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of West Africa.
Historically, students from Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, and Somalia have studied in Malaysia, creating long-standing professional and cultural ties.
Academic partnerships, technical training programmes, religious diplomacy, and cultural exchanges can serve as soft-power multipliers that build trust and familiarity that endure regardless of political cycles.
Therefore, I strongly argue that Malaysia urgently needs a dedicated African studies research centre, whether in public or private universities, to foster meaningful collaboration between Malaysian and African scholars.
Without such a platform, opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint innovation, and leveraging each region’s unique strengths will be lost, leaving Malaysia perpetually reactive rather than shaping its engagement with a continent whose strategic importance is rapidly escalating.
However, engagement requires pragmatism. Africa’s development trajectories are not uniform. Institutional capacity varies widely across states; infrastructure gaps, complex regulatory systems and governance challenges still pose real risks.
Malaysia must therefore approach expansion with structured caution: joint ventures instead of unilateral entry, staged investments rather than rapid deployment, and government-to-government frameworks to reduce exposure and increase predictability.
The lesson from other foreign actors, particularly China, Turkey, and Gulf states, is clear: long-term success comes from patience, partnership, and respect, not short-term opportunism.
Ultimately, the future of global power will not be defined solely by historical or traditional blocs. Instead, it will emerge from coalitions grounded in shared interests: security, trade, digital governance, climate mitigation, and supply-chain resilience.
The opportunity is fleeting, the stakes unmistakable: Africa is rising, and for Malaysia, delay is not an option - its strategic relevance is demanded today, not at some distant tomorrow. - Mkini
R PANEIR SELVAM is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (Arrescon), a think tank specialising in strategic national and geopolitical matters.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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