Geopolitical awakening in Africa: leveraging South–South cooperation in a multipolar world

Abstract Africa’s engagement with the international system is undergoing a significant shift as states and regional institutions increasingly pursue strategic autonomy within an emerging multipolar order. This article examines how African actors leverage South–South cooperation and regional integration to advance developmental sovereignty and geostrategic diversification, moving beyond portrayals of the continent as a passive recipient of external influence. Drawing on qualitative document and policy analysis and a structured set of illustrative case studies—including China–Africa, India–Africa, Turkey/Gulf–Africa partnerships, and intra-African cooperation through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional economic communities—the study traces how Africa is expanding its bargaining capacity, institutional coordination, and development-centred diplomacy. Particular attention is given to Tanzania as an illustrative site where sovereignty-oriented policy positioning and regional engagement reflect broader continental strategies. The findings suggest that while South–South cooperation can widen Africa’s strategic options and support development priorities, it also generates new risks of asymmetry, fragmentation, and dependency substitution if not managed through transparent governance and coordinated institutional frameworks. The article concludes that Africa’s growing agency in global governance depends on sustained regional cohesion, bargaining capacity, and knowledge sovereignty rather than on multipolarity alone.