African countries must address fundamental issues of leadership and executive accountability if the continent is to solve its pressing socio-economic challenges, according to former South African (SA) President Thabo Mbeki.

Speaking at the inaugural Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Rwanda, Mbeki argued that continental governance must be rooted directly in the everyday realities of ordinary citizens, particularly their ongoing struggles with poverty, hunger, and economic stagnation.

Mbeki warned that without addressing the quality and responsiveness of executive leadership, broader continental ambitions and Africa’s global standing will remain unfulfilled. He highlighted that democratic legitimacy requires leaders to deliver tangible improvements in living conditions rather than making empty campaign pledges.

“If we don’t attend to this matter successfully, there is no major African problem going to be solved, it doesn’t matter what the problem is, including the ones about Africa’s place in the world,” Mbeki said. “The challenge is this; what do we do to produce this kind of leadership that is needed? The leader that we want cannot drop from the skies. The masses of the ordinary people become important. You want me to elect you as President, what are you going to do about the fact that I am hungry and poor? If I elected you five years ago and these conditions have not changed, why must I elect you again?”

The two-day forum, hosted by the African School of Governance, brought together current and former heads of state, policymakers, and young leaders to debate strategic approaches for moving the continent from policy declarations to execution.

–ChannelAfrica–