Nairobi, July 8 -- There are moments in history when leadership is measured not by speeches, but by the courage to speak when silence is easier. Africa is at such a moment.

As our continent pursues deeper economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we are simultaneously witnessing renewed xenophobic tensions that threaten not only lives but also the economic future we have spent decades building. This is no longer simply a humanitarian issue. It is an economic issue. It is a leadership issue. And it is increasingly becoming a continental concern.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a market of more than 1.4 billion people with a combined gross domestic product exceeding $3 trill...