The future of Africa in an era of rising transatlantic tensions took centre stage at a spirited debate during the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend, hosted by The Africa Report, in Marrakesh on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The motion before the house was: "The West is breaking up, and that is more good than bad for Africa." Arguing for the motion were Carlos Lopes, former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and BBC journalist Beverly Ochieng.
On the opposing side, Arancha González Laya, former Spanish foreign minister and current Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, joined Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education.
The debate, moderated by veteran journalist Patrick Smith, took place against a backdrop of growing friction between America and Europe, a trend some analysts attribute to resurgent nationalism, divergent geopolitical priorities, and the return of hard-edged competition in global affairs.
