An Open Letter to African Leaders: Let’s Give Our Dreamers a Chance

Jibril Mohamed Ahmed (PhD), Certified Mentor and Receipent of Africa's Startup Mentor of the Year (2022).

Dear African Leaders,

Let me tell you a story.

There was once a young entrepreneur—let’s call her Mariam. Mariam wasn’t born into wealth, nor was she surrounded by powerful connections. But she had something far more valuable: a dream. She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to build something that would not only change her life but also the lives of others. She had a vision for a thriving business, one that could create jobs and give back to her community.

But as she set her sights on expansion, she hit a wall.

And no, I’m not talking about the kind of wall you find in a game of Tetris. This was a real wall—a wall of red tape, regulations, and bureaucratic hurdles. You see, Mariam had the audacity to want to hire talent from another African country—just across the border—but was told it would take months... or years. And when she asked for a simple work permit, the response was even more perplexing: She’d need to go back to her country, apply for a business visa, and wait some more. All for a position that was already hers to fill.

Meanwhile, an investor from Europe? A company from China? They’d get in with a handshake, a contract, and perhaps a few ceremonial bows. Why, you ask? Because that’s the world we live in—where the barriers for our own people are much higher than those for foreign interests.

So here’s the question: Why do we make it harder for our own people?

I know what some of you might be thinking: "Rules are rules. Every country has its own system." But here’s the thing—Mariam wasn’t trying to game the system. She wasn’t asking for any handouts. She was simply trying to do what we all talk about in speeches: create jobs, support local economies, and make Africa a global leader. Instead of rolling out the red carpet, we threw her a mound of paperwork.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t think paperwork should be the defining factor in whether an African entrepreneur succeeds. And if we’re serious about African unity and prosperity, it’s time to change the way we operate.

We need an African Startup Pact.

A pact that makes it easier for our businesses to hire the best talent across borders, without months of paperwork. A pact that ensures that young Africans don’t have to leave the continent in search of better opportunities because they’re being held back by archaic visa policies. A pact that says: If you are African and you are building something for Africa, we will support you.

Because here’s the reality: The world is moving fast. If we don’t act, our brightest minds will leave. Not because they want to, but because we’re making it difficult for them to stay. They will take their businesses, their innovations, and their jobs elsewhere—because they’ll have no choice.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

We can create a different Africa—one where startups don’t have to jump through hoops, one where innovation flows freely across borders. One where the next Mariam doesn’t have to choose between success and bureaucracy.

So let’s make a choice. Let’s create a future where African entrepreneurs have the freedom to thrive, where barriers are torn down, not built up. Let’s create a world where red tape is reserved for Christmas presents, not our people’s futures.

We can do this. Let’s build a future where Africa’s dreamers and doers can rise, together.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jibril Mohamed Ahmed(PhD)

African Entrepreneur and Founder of Sahanease Solar