By Obinna Ejianya (9News Nigeria – Melbourne, Australia)
Best-selling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” Robert Kiyosaki, recently shared a post on his official Facebook page addressing the shifting global power structure and where countries like the United States, China, Europe, and India stand.
FORGET AMERICA, EUROPE IS ON THE VERGE OF DECLINE (Don’t miss this)
EVERY 250 TO 400 YEARS, THE WORLD’S POWER STRUCTURE RESETS.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE RIGHT NOW.
AND THE DATA TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHERE EVERY MAJOR POWER SITS.
The post has generated widespread reactions, sparking serious conversations about the direction of the global economy and the ongoing shift in world power dynamics. The message was clear: the world is entering another historic transition—one where dominant empires decline and new powers emerge.
His argument, built on long-cycle economic and civilizational patterns, has sparked global debate. Analysts, economists, and everyday readers are dissecting his claims—questioning the timelines, the historical parallels, and the positioning of nations like the United States, China, India, and Europe within this evolving order.
But beyond the debates over accuracy, there is a deeper issue—one that has not received enough attention.
Africa was not mentioned.
Not Nigeria.
Not South Africa.
Not Egypt.
Not a single African country.
For a continent that holds immense demographic weight and resource significance, this omission is not just surprising—it is revealing.
From an African perspective, this silence speaks volumes.
As of April 2026, Africa’s population is estimated at approximately 1.58 billion people—nearly one-fifth of the global population. It is the youngest continent on earth, with a median age of just 19.5 years, representing a future workforce that could shape global productivity for decades to come.
Yet, despite these realities, Africa continues to exist on the margins of global strategic conversations.
And the contradiction becomes even more pronounced when one considers the migration crisis.
Every year, millions of Africans leave the continent—not out of luxury, but out of necessity. They cross deserts, risk their lives on unstable boats across the Mediterranean, and move into unfamiliar territories in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America in search of opportunity.
Many never arrive.
Others who do often face exploitation, systemic discrimination, and economic hardship.
This is not just migration—it is a structural signal. It reflects a continent rich in potential but unable, in many cases, to convert that potential into sustainable prosperity for its people.
At the same time, Africa remains central—quietly but critically—to the global economy.
The continent produces roughly 70 to 75 percent of the world’s cocoa. It supplies over 70 percent of global cobalt, a mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and modern technology. Africa holds about 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves and dominates the supply of platinum group metals. It is rich in gold, diamonds, bauxite, lithium, and rare earth elements—resources that power industries across continents.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, continues to play a strategic role in global energy supply.
In essence, Africa powers the world—but does not shape it.
And that is the core of the issue.
Robert Kiyosaki’s thesis outlines a world where power is defined by economic strength, financial systems, military positioning, and strategic alliances. Within that framework, Africa’s absence is not accidental—it is symptomatic.
It reflects a continent that has yet to translate its vast natural and human resources into coordinated geopolitical influence.
So the question is no longer just why Africa was ignored in this particular analysis.
The real question is:
Has Africa, through decades of inconsistent leadership, weak institutions, policy fragmentation, and economic mismanagement, positioned itself outside the core of global power calculations?
Or is the world simply failing to recognise a sleeping giant that has not yet fully awakened?
Until Africa begins to industrialise at scale, build resilient institutions, retain its human capital, and assert itself within global financial and political systems, omissions like this will persist.
Because global power is not assigned—it is demonstrated.
And until Africa consistently demonstrates it, the world will continue to analyse the future—without Africa in the equation.
