The 8th African Leadership Forum (ALF), held from April 7 to 8, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda, brought together former African presidents, experts, youth leaders, and other change-makers to talk about how Africa can reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with the theme: “Realising Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward.”
One of the strongest voices at the forum was former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma. He said African leaders must stop pretending and start truly serving their people. “Leadership is not about looking good or playing politics. It’s about how we care for the poor and weak in our society,” he said.
He warned against what he called “performative governance”—leaders doing things just to appear active, without real impact. To meet the SDGs, he said, leaders must be honest, accountable, and work for the people, not just for power.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda also shared his thoughts at the ALF event. He said Africa must stop sending raw materials abroad and instead focus on producing and exporting finished products. That way, African countries can grow their economies and create more jobs at home. “We keep exporting raw materials and importing poverty,” he said. “This must stop.”
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Other former presidents like Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia also spoke at the event. They agreed that Africa must set its own priorities and not just follow foreign agenda.
Participants t the forum also discussed topics like food security, education, industrialization, trade, and climate change. They shared stories of progress in different countries, like Rwanda’s digital growth and Ethiopia’s improvements in agriculture. But everyone agreed on one thing: Africa doesn’t lack ideas—it lacks committed leaders who will take action.
In the end, the ALF reminded everyone that Africa’s future depends on the kind of leadership it chooses, as former President Koroma said, “Leadership is Africa’s greatest resource.”
