Africa’s Struggle for Sovereignty: Neo-Colonialism and External Control in the 21st Century

Abstract

In the aftermath of formal decolonisation, Africa’s pursuit of genuine sovereignty has been persistently undermined by evolving structures of external domination. This paper interrogates the resurgence of neo-colonialism in the 21st century, exploring its contemporary manifestations in economic dependency, political manipulation, cultural imperialism, and the emerging realms of digital and data colonialism. Far from obsolete, colonial patterns of exploitation have been reconstituted through the operations of global financial institutions, multinational corporations, geopolitical alliances, and Big Tech hegemony. These structures continue to shape African realities, subordinating the continent’s political agency and epistemic autonomy. Drawing on theoretical frameworks including Nkrumah’s theory of neo-colonialism, Couldry and Mejias’ conception of data colonialism, and African relational ethics rooted in Ubuntu philosophy, this article critically examines how new technologies such as artificial intelligence and algorithmic governance perpetuate global asymmetries of power. The analysis adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, incorporating critical literature review, discursive analysis, and philosophical reflection. The study foregrounds the multifaceted ways in which African societies are dispossessed—economically through extractive trade and debt mechanisms, politically through foreign security entanglements, and digitally through the commodification of African data and identities. Yet, the article also emphasises African resistance, highlighting emergent movements advocating for digital sovereignty, decolonial AI ethics, and intra-continental economic cooperation, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By situating the humanities at the centre of this discourse, the paper argues for the intellectual imperative of interrogating neo-colonial power structures and advancing alternative paradigms of African autonomy. The conclusion proposes actionable recommendations aimed at reasserting African sovereignty across economic, digital, cultural, and ethical domains. This study ultimately contributes to the broader scholarly discourse on postcolonial studies, African political thought, and the global ethics of technology, calling for a renewed commitment to decolonial futures in Africa.