The Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, is hosting the annual gathering of Africa's heads of state, taking place amidst a period of significant change in the continent's global standing.

At the recent Davos conference, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney presented a stark perspective on the future of international relations, suggesting that countries must either be actively engaged or risk being marginalized.

This analogy is not new to Africa's leaders, who have long advocated for a more prominent role in global affairs.

During his second term, US President Donald Trump has intensified the trend of great-power dominance in international relations, accompanied by a decline in multilateral cooperation.

The updated US security strategy indicates that not all regions can receive equal attention, with the Trump administration's focus on the Western hemisphere and the Middle East implying a reduced emphasis on Africa.

As a result, less powerful nations that have traditionally relied on global institutions such as the UN, World Bank, and World Trade Organization are now forced to reassess their relationships and strategies.

These developments have created a sense of urgency around the question of how Africa should navigate its interactions with the rest of the world.

Tighisti Amare, director of the Africa programme at Chatham House, warns that African countries risk being "left behind" if they fail to develop a unified and effective strategy.

The US has already begun to pursue bilateral deals with African countries, focusing on minerals and natural resources, which may undermine the continent's ability to negotiate collectively.

The shift in US policy towards Africa, as reflected in recent statements from Washington, has been significant.

In a speech at a US-Africa summit just over three years ago, then-President Joe Biden expressed strong support for the continent, stating that the US was "all-in on Africa's future".

A subsequent White House strategy document described sub-Saharan Africa as "critical to advancing our global priorities".

However, critics have questioned the depth of this commitment, noting that Biden's only visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president was a brief trip to Cape Verde and Angola in the final month of his term.

In contrast, the Trump administration's "America First" approach has a narrower definition of US interests.

According to the White House's National Security Strategy, the US cannot afford to devote equal attention to every region and global issue.

The strategy document outlines a plan to partner with "select countries" to address conflict, foster trade relationships, and promote economic growth by transitioning from aid to investment.

Peter Pham, a former special envoy to Africa during the Trump administration, views this approach as a more honest and realistic assessment of US interests.

Pham, who was trained in the realist school of international relations, acknowledges that Africa is not a top priority for the US, despite its importance to him personally.

He emphasizes that no country, including a superpower like the US, has the resources or bandwidth to address every global issue or meet the needs of every partner.

Pham argues that the US must prioritize its resources and focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for its citizens and partners.

A recent example of this approach is the minerals deal between the US and the Democratic Republic of Congo, signed in December, which aims to secure reliable supply chains for critical minerals.

The agreement also encourages investment in the DR Congo, which has significant reserves of minerals essential for the production of electronic goods.

Pham is involved in another project, the "Liberty Corridor", which aims to develop new infrastructure linking Guinea's iron ore mines to a Liberian port, boosting exports of the raw material.

Ken Opalo, an Africa specialist at Georgetown University, expresses concern that the US's transactional, bilateral approach may weaken the bargaining position of African countries.

He suggests that the US focus on minerals, as seen in the DR Congo example, may prioritize the interests of American companies over broader economic cooperation, which is not in the best interests of the region.

Opalo argues that African countries need deeper market access, investment treaties, and access to US capital for all sectors, not just mining.

DR Congo's Mines Minister, Louis Watum Kabamba, has dismissed concerns about the country being taken advantage of, stating that it will not "sell everything for nothing to America".

The US is not the only major power involved in Africa, as China has outspent the US in foreign direct investment on the continent for over a decade, although this trend was reversed last year.

Other countries, including Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, are also pursuing investment and security deals in Africa.

Opalo notes that while a transactional approach is not inherently bad, African governments often lack the strategic thinking and diplomatic expertise to navigate these complex relationships effectively.

The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, may be seen as an example of Africa's limited ability to resolve its own conflicts.

Despite its official neutrality, Turkey has been accused of supplying weapons to the Sudanese army, while Iran and Russia face similar accusations, which they have denied.

The UAE has also been accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, which it denies.

Opalo views the failure to resolve the Sudan crisis as a symptom of the continent's lack of agency and effectiveness in addressing its own challenges.

Ghana's President John Mahama is attempting to change this narrative, arguing that Africa must take greater control of its own destiny.

Speaking at the Davos conference, Mahama emphasized the need for Africa to become more self-sufficient, given the unpredictability of international alliances and the decline in development assistance.

He argued that the continent has lost its sovereignty and is trapped in a cycle of dependency, both in terms of aid and security.

Mahama's prescription, as outlined in his Accra Reset project, involves investing in relevant skills, coordinating industrialization across regions, and negotiating with external partners as a unified continent.

He emphasized the need for Africa to capture more value from its natural resources, rather than simply supplying the world with critical minerals.

The Accra Reset project aims to promote African-led development and reduce the continent's reliance on external assistance, through a combination of investment, industrialization, and coordinated negotiation.

The question remains whether the current calls for change will yield a different outcome than previous efforts, and if the circumstances are now more favorable for progress.

According to analyst Tighisti, a unified front among leaders requires a focus on regional interests, which may necessitate setting aside national interests to achieve greater influence in international negotiations.

During his speech in Davos, the Canadian prime minister urged the world's "middle powers" to collaborate, citing countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa as potential participants in Africa.

However, Tighisti notes that despite these countries being seen as leaders, a lack of continental leadership hinders the advancement of the integration agenda.

A significant obstacle is that many leaders are preoccupied with domestic issues, which demand their attention and divert focus from regional and international matters.

Tighisti points out that existing frameworks, such as the African continent's free trade area and the African Union's Agenda 2063, provide a foundation for increased cooperation, but progress has been slow to materialize.

In his address in Switzerland, Mahama stated that Africa aims to play a role in shaping the new global order.

Considerable work remains to be done to capitalize on the shift in US foreign policy and the support of other partners, with concrete opportunities yet to emerge.

For additional news and updates from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.