Africans are fools, they have all it takes to be wealthy and control the world, but still, they live in abject poverty. What a shame!
Are you talking mostly to the people living there? I think they can only do less but most action will still depend on their government. And maybe their government is selfish or corrupt for their country to not improve as a whole.
Even the colonisers did not help, as they've sucked them dry, but it seems things are now changing, with France sent back to its country in some African countries, and a few others are now talking tough.
But, they supposed to be helpful? I mean I often heard bad things about them in the past. But maybe you mean it should be a form of motivator for them to fight back and improve their selves? That is possible but it is seems they didn't try to anymore.
Recently, Nigeria warned the US to tread carefully on the immigration ban on its citizen, that it would cost them access to their rare earth minerals. The continent has never talked tough before, but focused on the money that would gain. But now, they are discovering their stance in the world.
So, I was wrong because they are now trying their best actually to improve or not get taken advantage by other countries easily. That's great and that is a good start if they did not do something like this before.