What is fuelling the rise of a Sub-Saharan Africa – Morocco – Atlantic Axis?
A growing number of African countries are integrating into manufacturing chains as several are moving upstream in automotive components, renewables, agri-industry, and infrastructure. A new report by the Choiseul Institute shows a massive shift where a pan-African economic space is gradually reshaping global production models. CNBC Africa is joined by Yasmina Asrarguis, Princeton Researcher, Choiseul Institute for more.
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:10:27 GMT
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AI Generated Summary
Key Points:
- Africa is increasingly integrating into global manufacturing chains, shifting from raw material export to technology and finished goods export.
- Morocco has emerged as a central player in this transformation, investing heavily in logistics and infrastructure.
- A new economic geography is forming, with Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Nigeria prominent in various sectors.
- The transformation is driven by African investment within Africa, signaling a shift towards a South-South cooperation model.
- Significant investments in EVs and batteries are propelling Africa to the heart of the global green transition.
Topics
AfricaMoroccoAtlantic AxisIndustrial IntegrationManufacturingAutomotiveRenewablesAfrica EconomyGlobal ProductionInfrastructure
In a transformative era for Africa’s economic landscape, a recent report highlights a burgeoning ‘Atlantic Axis’ between Sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco, showcasing a continent stepping up as a significant player in global production models. As more African nations integrate into international manufacturing chains, sectors such as automotive components, renewables, agri-industry, and infrastructure are gaining prominence. The study, spearheaded by researcher Yasmina Assarrius from Princeton University, sheds light on Africa’s shifting economic dynamics.
According to Assarrius, Africa’s economic gravitation is increasingly aligning towards the Atlantic, a shift driven by connectivity and sovereignty. Morocco stands at the forefront of this revolution, having invested significantly in logistics and territorial integration over the past two decades. The nation’s development of the only high-speed rail network in Africa and the expansion of Tangier Medport, now Africa’s leading container port, exemplify how infrastructure can serve as continental rather than strictly national assets. This strategic reinvestment has resulted in a robust network of nearly 1,000 cooperation agreements across the continent, effectively converting diplomacy into value chains.
The report identifies emerging industrial value chains within Africa, notably in the automotive sector where Africa transitions from a raw material exporter to a technology and finished goods exporter. Morocco’s robust automotive industry now leads the way, exporting over 700,000 vehicles annually, surpassing phosphates as the country’s top export and addressing both European and African consumer demands. Monumental investments are being made in the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries with initiatives such as a 70-gigawatt battery materials plant in Jor Lesfar and a prospective gigafactory in Kenitra promising up to 100 gigawatts by 2026. These projects, with a combined investment of $6.5 billion, aim to capitalize on West Africa’s mineral wealth to create a fully African integrated value chain, repositioning Africa from the bottom to the heart of the global green transition.
As the continent reshapes its future, attention is turning toward key investment areas within the logistics and value chains. Assarrius points out regions like Morocco in automotive and aeronautics, Côte d’Ivoire in finance and services, Senegal in gas and green hydrogen, and Nigeria in scalability and innovation as pivotal to Africa’s new growth geography. This burgeoning economic landscape is not solely driven by foreign aid but by African investment within Africa itself, signaling a shift towards a South-South collaboration model. Morocco has become the second-largest African investor on the continent, with its banks crossing borders into a dozen countries and its telecom operators reaching over 60 million subscribers.
This dynamic model of intra-African cooperation is transforming the continent, heralding a new era of inclusive economic development. As Africa takes charge of its narrative, it signals a shift in history, a continent moving beyond its earlier chapters and writing new ones, poised for a future defined by resilience and collaborative growth
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