With the shifting global security dynamics and a changing world order, often driven by economic and geopolitical competition among superpowers, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Naeem Khan, noted that these changes affect Africa and Asia alike. He said that the two continents share common colonial legacies, noting that cooperation would provide sustainable solutions for economic and political security in the Global South. ALSO READ: Pakistani firm looks to set up industrial park in Rwanda Speaking at a seminar attended by university students at the Pakistan High Commission in Kigali on February 5, Khan said that the world is moving toward a more fragmented world order, leading to increasing instability. This, he argued, should serve as a lesson for Africa and Asia, urging them to draw insights from current conflicts where great-power competition is playing out. The seminar focused on global security dynamics and lessons for Africa and Asia. “Africa-Asia, despite its connection with other countries, should focus on bringing the two continents together,” he said. “There should be more businesses, exchanges, and investments from Asia to Africa and vise-versa.” Amb Khan said that it’s so strange that 54 countries in Africa and 48 in Asia most of them share the same colonial masters but still continue looking at them as partners and helpers. “The geo-economics is related to too much culture and for Africans and Asians, they are together. They feel at home for each other. They have similarities of traditions, bitter past, challenges and problems. We understand each other better and with the increase of geo-economics, will attract geo-politics,” he explained. “We never had territorial disputes and no African or Asian country colonized the other. We do have better memories and this attracts friendship and makes us feel closer mentally and sentimentally,” he added. ALSO READ: Why Africa, Asia hold market potential for Rwandan coffee, tea The effects of fragility are especially visible in Africa, where global and regional shocks interact with long-standing vulnerabilities. For instance, in the Great Lakes region is DR Congo where decades of weak governance, armed groups including genocidal militias, FDLR and competition over mineral resources from super power countries have resulted in cycles of fragility. Additionally, in the Sahel region insecurity has combined with weak governance to deepen instability. Climate-induced drought reduces livelihoods, extremist groups exploit local grievances, and repeated military coups reflect the erosion of democratic norms. At the same time, declining trust in international partners and growing regional fragmentation have reshaped security alliances, showing how global pressures lead into fragile governance across Africa. “There is a major race for minerals, precious stones, and critical technologies. This growing competition is becoming a global challenge. There is an attention and that’s a mix of geo-economics and geo-politics,” he said. ALSO READ: Nigerian businessman found a market for Rwandan coffee in West Africa Julienne Unogeye, a student at the East African University Rwanda who attended the seminar, believes that Rwanda’s example, using limited available resources to develop homegrown solutions, should serve as a lesson to others. She added that any external support should come later. “The first priority is self-reliance and working together without depending on external support. We do receive assistance, but it should not come with restrictions. Our government focuses on securing the basics, which can then be used to attract partners rather than funders,” Unogeye argued. Dan Bizimungu, a graduate of the University of Rwanda, believes that the country's Made in Rwanda initiative is a clear home-grown solution that is driven by self-reliance. “It shows how small countries can cope when superpowers face instability. This approach should be adopted by all African countries to develop home-grown solutions,” he said.
