As it continues to develop at an impressive pace, Africa remains widely misunderstood, and at times, even looked down upon. Yet the continent holds one of the keys to the planet’s future.
In this book, Macky Sall, former President of the Republic of Senegal, explains how the major challenges of the 21st century are inseparable from a fully united, developed, and prosperous Africa. A respected statesman who brought Senegal to the forefront of African and global affairs, he is among the most credible voices to speak on Africa’s behalf. Drawing on his firm commitment to multilateral dialogue, Macky Sall highlights the continent’s considerable assets: its 1.5 billion people, high-performing FinTech ecosystems, vast natural resources, dynamic digital landscape, and growing cultural soft power. He also recalls the exploitation the continent has endured, its chronic underinvestment, and the unjust burden of debt that continues to hamper its economic momentum.
Across these pages, he demonstrates that from the Maghreb to the Cape, from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Guinea, Africa holds all the human and natural resources needed to contribute meaningfully to the smooth functioning of the world – provided it is finally granted its rightful place within a new global financial architecture and allowed to reconcile development goals with climate imperatives, as drivers of both growth and social justice.

Macky Sall served as President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024, and as chair of the African Union. He currently chairs the Global Center on Adaptation, an international organization working for climate action. 

1. Cover Page
2. Title Page
3. Copyright Page
4. Dedication Page
5. Acknowledgments
6. Foreword
7. Chapter 1 - Child of Light
8. Chapter 2 - Early Involvement
9. Chapter 3 - My Energy Mix: Oil Exploration and Activism
10. Chapter 4 - At the Helm
11. Chapter 5 - In the Heart of Senegal
12. Chapter 6 - President-Engineer
13. Chapter 7 - Serving, Acting, Building
14. Chapter 8 - 360-Degree Diplomacy
15. Chapter 9 - Pan-Africa
16. Chapter 10 - A Continent of Solutions
17. Chapter 11 - Africa in Action
18. Chapter 12 - A Beacon for the Future
19. Chapter 13 - Creativity on the Move
20. Chapter 14 - Africa, BRICS, and the Global South
21. Chapter 15 - The UN: Africa's Rightful Place
22. Chapter 16 - The African Debt Scandal
23. Chapter 17 - Breaking the Debt Trap
24. Chapter 18 - Balancing Climate Action and Development
25. Chapter 19 - Advocating for Climate Action
26. Chapter 20 - A Time for Industry
27. Chapter 21 - Education
28. Chapter 22 - Workers Not Migrants
29. Chapter 23 - Passing the Torch
30. Contents