The President and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has warned that growing Afrophobic sentiments across Africa pose a serious threat to youth empowerment, economic integration and the continent’s long-term development goals.
Mupita issued the warning ahead of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation dialogues, amid growing social media campaigns targeting multinational companies following recent anti-immigrant protests in South Africa.
According to him, Africa’s rapidly growing youth population remains the continent’s greatest asset and should be harnessed for economic growth rather than being drawn into divisive nationalism and retaliatory actions that could weaken regional cooperation.
Mupita stressed that Africa’s demographic advantage can only translate into sustainable growth if governments and businesses invest heavily in skills development, innovation and digital inclusion.
He noted that the continent’s young population presents enormous opportunities for economic transformation, but warned that these opportunities could be lost if rising tensions discourage cross-border investment and collaboration.
“MTN also believes that embracing the benefits of the digital economy is vital to turning the youth bulge into a youth dividend,” he said.
According to him, digital technologies, entrepreneurship and innovation remain critical tools for creating jobs and improving livelihoods for millions of young Africans.
Attacks on Pan-African Businesses Risk Economic Setbacks
The MTN chief cautioned that hostility toward multinational and pan-African businesses could damage industries that provide employment, attract investment and support critical infrastructure across the continent.
He explained that companies operating in multiple African countries play an important role in advancing economic cooperation and helping to achieve the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mupita noted that attacks on such businesses could undermine telecommunications, financial technology and digital services that millions of Africans rely on daily.
Highlighting MTN’s pan-African footprint, Mupita said the telecommunications giant derives the majority of its earnings from markets outside South Africa.
“MTN makes less than 20 per cent in South Africa and makes 80 per cent of our earnings elsewhere. We have not seen impacts specifically to our business, but we are very sensitive in markets such as Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.
He added that the company remains vigilant as tensions continue to emerge in some countries.
Africa’s Future Depends on Unity and Rule of Law
Mupita emphasized that Africa’s future prosperity depends on stronger cooperation among countries, deeper economic integration and respect for legal and governance institutions.
“The future of Africa depends on greater social solidarity, increasing economic integration and the observance of the rule of law,” he said.
He argued that dialogue, inclusion and lawful engagement offer more sustainable solutions to migration-related tensions than boycotts, retaliation or targeting of businesses.
According to him, protecting migrants, investments and cross-border trade remains essential to achieving shared prosperity and accelerating development across the continent.
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Economic analysts have also expressed concern that retaliatory actions against multinational operators could disrupt key sectors including telecommunications, fintech and e-commerce, which support millions of jobs and livelihoods across Africa.
They argue that stronger social cohesion and greater economic integration are necessary for African countries to fully benefit from opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area and the continent’s expanding digital economy.
As debates around migration and economic participation intensify in parts of Africa, stakeholders say preserving unity and fostering cooperation will be critical to ensuring that the continent’s growing youth population becomes a driver of prosperity rather than a victim of division.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.