MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita warns that anti-immigrant sentiments and attacks on pan-African businesses could weaken jobs, investment and the continent’s economic integration.
Lagos: MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, on Wednesday, warned that rising Afrophobic sentiments could undermine youth empowerment, economic integration and Africa’s development ambitions.
In a statement ahead of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation dialogues, Mupita said the growing campaign against multinational firms, following anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, risked worsening divisions across the continent.
He said Africa’s young population remained its greatest asset and should be directed toward economic opportunity rather than divisive nationalism or retaliatory actions.
“MTN also believes that embracing the benefits of the digital economy is vital to turning the youth bulge into a youth dividend,” Mupita said.
According to him, Africa’s demographic profile offers enormous opportunities if governments and businesses invest in skills, innovation and digital inclusion for young people.
The MTN boss said attacks on pan-African businesses could weaken industries that provide jobs, investment and critical infrastructure for millions of young Africans.
He said companies operating across African borders played strategic roles in advancing economic cooperation and supporting the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mupita said MTN’s operations reflected its pan-African identity and broad economic footprint across several African markets.
“MTN makes less than 20 per cent in South Africa and makes 80 per cent of our earnings elsewhere,” he said.
“We have not seen impacts specifically to our business, but we are very sensitive in markets such as Nigeria and Ghana,” Mupita added.
He said the company remained alert to emerging tensions in some countries.
The MTN chief noted that Africa’s future depended on stronger cooperation, economic integration and respect for established 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.
Mupita said dialogue, inclusion and lawful engagement offered more sustainable responses to migration-related tensions than boycotts, retaliation or corporate targeting.
He maintained that protecting migrants, investments and cross-border commerce remained essential to achieving shared prosperity and continental development.
Analysts say retaliatory action against multinational operators could disrupt telecommunications, fintech and e-commerce ecosystems that support millions of livelihoods across Africa.
They added that stronger social cohesion and deeper economic integration would help countries maximise opportunities created by AfCFTA and the continent’s digital economy.