At the 40th Anniversary of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN20), a historic moment unfolded as Africa’s collective voice on climate justice resonated louder than ever. Our Executive Director,Meryne Warah, stood before leaders,policymakers, civil society, and faith actors, delivering a powerful and unapologetic message rooted in justice,faith, and Africa’s right to define its own future. With clarity and conviction, she called out the dangerous patterns of fossil fuel dependency and extractive economies that continue to hold Africa hostage. Her words cut deep into the conscience of the global audience: “Africa is not a raw material colony.” This statement was not just a rebuke of the past but a bold declaration of a new path forward, one in which Africa claims agency over its resources , development, and destiny.