Why is Africa so poor?

[boyptc]

They are exploited.

The people there by the leaders and other nations that are extending their help to them.

I think they're a real powerhouse if being utilized and if politicians really cares there. They can be the place for the best athletes in the world and as well as other minerals that are taken there.

But I know that their soil is very rich and everyone is given equal opportunity there, they'll thrive but it won't be the same situation forever.

[Minor Miner]

Personally , I think the two main reasons why Africa is poor are corruption and political instability.

Corruption and political instability go hand in hand and are at the root of poverty in poor countries, not just Africa. This is basic knowledge and the OP also made it clear that "corruption" is not an explanation he needs to know because it's something that no one doesn't know. What he wanted to know was the underlying cause behind it all?

Yeah, basic knowledge doesn't cut it when we're talking about centuries of people being taken advantage of. And how money and power still aren't distributed equally worldwide. Colonialism directly robbed those countries and their people. And these systems are still messing them over today, stealing resources and rigging economics so the rich get richer. It isn't just about some bad leader being corrupt or unstable. This whole thing is bigger than that.

Corruption in Africa is just the tip of the iceberg that colonialism wanted Africans to see so they would think that the cause of poverty was government corruption. But in fact, the root of what Africans are suffering is the consequences of colonialism that has been plundering and exploiting Africa since 1880, and they are still doing it today. Not only do they plunder Africa's mineral resources, they also cause illiteracy, seek to prevent education from reaching the continent, and further divide Africa internally...Because only then can they easily plunder without getting a bad reputation, even being seen as the saviors of Africa.

In general, Africa's problems are too complex and will not be solved soon because there are too many forces that do not want African countries to develop because if that happens, they will lose a huge source of resources and income. And not many people will talk about this instead they will focus on blaming the corrupt government and consider it as the cause of everything.

[NotATether]

Most of these answers are wrong and the real reason why Africa remains poor (and will remain so in the near future) is something like this:

Code:

                   Country has a bad economy
              --->                           \
             /                                --->
Prices go up                                 Corrupt citizens loot the government
                                                   causing cash shortage
             <---                             /
                 \                        <---
                 Government increases taxes and
                       prints more money

As you can see, aid does not appear in the cycle because most of it never reaches the government anyway. It almost entirely lines private pockets.

The cycle can only be broken if countries stop having civil wars and political instability, and create more jobs for their citizens by taking part in globalization.

[Spaceman1000$]

A lot of people are saying “corruption”.sorry,that’s not an explanation that’s an observation.There is a why there is a lot of corruption in Africa and it has everything to do with western foreign aid and economic interventionism in various states of Africa.

Before mentioning the two causes lets dispel the myth that it was due to colonialism.There have been about 40years since the vast majority of Africa was decolonized.To compare,40years after the liberation of the United States as colonies they were a serious world economic power and growing at a REAL GDP rate of 5%-6% per year.

The majority of African countries have done no such thing 40years after the end of their colonization so clearly there is a different reason for the poverty other than colonization.
One clear difference between the former independence movement of the Americas and Africa is that Africa receives a mountain of foreign “aid” every year.

FOREIGN AID: So what is it?
It is a transfer of wealth between two GOVERNMENT,debased entirely from economic growth and good government.Obviously this provides a slew of perverse incentives.Think of it,if I give you a business but regardless of your performance you will always make 5billion dollars,what incentive do you have to make your business ethical,efficient and transparent? You don’t! Infact, you will probably plunder the business for even more money because success is detached from good management.
“You see,a well managed state knows that in order to be successful parasites they must suck a minimal amount of blood out of the economy(in the form of taxes)so as not to seriously stifle economic growth”. In this way the economy will expand and with it,more potential blood to suck. If,however,the parasite has an unlimited food source without having to depend on the victim’s health,they will suck so much blood out of the victim that the victim dies.

Foreign aid is the unlimited food source to most African states and politicians.They don’t care about their countries’ economic health because they get billions a year anyway from their western friends.All these billions are more than enough to provide them with immense personal riches and a nicely sized army of thugs to suppress local revolts.
So is it any surprise that most governments in Africa plunder their own economics through heavy taxes,regulation,and inflationary monetary policy?
In a world without financial aid they would have to be very careful to keep taxes low and let people and businesses flourish because, of course, if they ruin the economy,they also ruin the extortion(tax)inflows and therefore,their personal wealth and military power.

“But in our perverse diplomatic world of foreign aid,government are actually incentivized to keep their countries poor! In this way they can justify the continued foreign aid!

OP you've put up a nice piece but I will tend to disagree with you in some cases. Let's start with the case of decolonising, you compared how America was able to grow her economy after 40 years of liberation, however in the case of Africa, it wasn't like that, we still had western influences on various economic activities in Africa including our political space too. The African countries started experiencing Neocolonialism after their colonial masters left, you can check the Book by kwame Nkrumah where he talked about Neolonialism the last stage of imperialism, it will explain how the west left Africa only to install other means of exploit, which I don't think America had same experience. however up until today, there are still some good level of Neocolonialism still happening in parts of Africa.

Talking about Foreign Aid, the aid from foreign nations to Africa, despite the fact that it is agreeable that there are Western aid's to Africa especially in terms of medication and grants to help manage our health system, we must also recognize that it has never been the basis for which the African countries has been developing, their are lots of African countries that have GDP that run into billions of dollars, and a lot of African countries have been making good use of her own wealth, countries like Rwanda, Egypt, South Africa and a whole lot of African countries that are doing well with their own wealth, I've not even seen an African country that has grown so much economic power with foreign AIDS, so I even feel that the issue of foreign aid are more exaggerated, outside the medication for HIV AIDS and tuberculosis that are been sent to African on yearly basis, I can barely pinpoint any other thing most Africans have benefited as foreign aid from anywhere, not to even talk of solely depending on foreign aids for economic development.
What we most all agree is the fact that we have corrupt leaders in Africa, who are interested in primitive accumulation of wealth for themselves as against the interest of the entire state, however there are still exceptional cases in Africa that don't have such experience.

[Fiatless]

As you can see, aid does not appear in the cycle because most of it never reaches the government anyway. It almost entirely lines private pockets.

The cycle can only be broken if countries stop having civil wars and political instability, and create more jobs for their citizens by taking part in globalization.

Some of these funds that have be stolen are stached in foreign banks and sone are used to buy properties in some developed nations. Some of the biggest corruption cases in my country are between local politicians in collaboration with Western multinational corporations.

Some of the wars in Africa are sponsored by powerful nations so that they can have access to cheap mineral resources.

I totally accept that Africans are the reason why the continent is still backward, but Africa has not broken free from neocolonialism.

[Dunamisx]

A lot of people are saying “corruption”.sorry,that’s not an explanation that’s an observation.There is a why there is a lot of corruption in Africa and it has everything to do with western foreign aid and economic interventionism in various states of Africa.

You're wrong, don't tell me that if you're being taught to do evil, you also never for once have a thought on doing same, you make your choice on whatever thing to do, if you're told to do something and you comply doing same, that means you also have that same thing in mind, but only waiting for a circumstance like that to unleashed your thoughts, you cant be forced against your wish, except you comply for that, don't blame anyone for your mistake, you have the right to choose in-between what to do.

[NotATether]

Some of the wars in Africa are sponsored by powerful nations so that they can have access to cheap mineral resources.

They supply weapons and other stuff to the militias. Look at what is happening in Sudan for example.

The developed countries may not be fighting the wars themselves, but all thy want is the land, the ports, the resources etc and most African countries are too weak to refuse their so-called "aid". (You have a few like Egypt and South Africa who are doing just fine on their own)

[macson]

For years Africa has received assistance from many developed countries in the world, but until now there has been no significant change in their region. because at a time when many third world countries are starting to develop, the majority of countries in Africa are not showing significant development, even worse, they are going backwards.

There must be something wrong here, whether it is because of its limited natural resources, its people, or its leaders. this is certainly a fairly complex problem.

But that is not a reason for African countries not to realize their backwardness. their leaders are people who have direct control over their countries. they should be able to bring their countries to the prosperity and progress they have always dreamed of. it is indeed not easy, but if all parties work together it should be achievable.

[Zoomic]

Enough of the blame games, Africans are their own problem. Colonization happened years ago, and as far as I know, there is no African country still being colonized today. However, if there is, you all can let me know because I don’t know much about Africa.

What exactly is stopping Africa from standing on its own and building a befitting country for itself, just like Western countries? As far as I know, Africa is blessed with many natural resources that they can utilize to improve life for their people, yet they don’t do that.

Recently, Trump stopped some aid to Africa, especially HIV/AIDS medications. According to him, all raw materials were sourced from Africa. Why can’t Africa produce them on its own?

I don’t think Africa is ready to get out of poverty.

[BADecker]

Just a note. In Ethiopia alone there are some 70 different tribes that seem to be living together peacefully. But they all are different, and each one wants to be boss of all the others.

[russianmother]

Everyone in Africa climbs just for the sake of resources, otherwise it is not needed.

[Zanab247]

Everyone in Africa climbs just for the sake of resources, otherwise it is not needed.

But it is the responsibility of the governments to make resources and good economic available for citizens to have access, which is the reason people on position have been voted for, and if they are not capable to create all those things for the citizens, they should allow those that have the experience to be in those positions.

Africa leaders are the cause of poor development in Africa, because they don't fight for the interest of their citizens than to fight for their own interest, which is not how it suppose be in a nations. You see infrastructure, digital currency, and potential leaders, once Africa  leaders establish all those things ,they will begin to see development in Africa.

[Lida93]

Well if you check Africa is a vast and diverse country it economic growth and situation cannot be attributed to a single reason, here are some historical facts why Africa is poor know for slave trade its disrupted Africa society which lead to significant population losses and contributed to the continent underdevelopment, Africa rapid growth of population can put pressure on resources, infrastructure and services, making it challenging to reduce poverty.

In as much as all these factors you endorsed are valid we shouldn't continue to justify the ineptitudes of the leadership's we have across the countries that makes up the African continent. Their leadership style is one that lacks the character of incorruptibility for which has made them to continue to maintain the underdevelopment status quo of the continent despite the numerous natural resources that is in abundance in the different countries of Africa. Of course, Africa was colonised and leading to the pillaging of it's natural and human resources but since from independence what has been the approach to the way forward?

[Mpamaegbu]

To make a long story short, Africa is supposedly poor because the continent is mismanaged by selfish leaders. It's not even about the backlog of colonial experiences various countries of the continent have had. All that should be in the past and a new path charted if the continent had dedicated and strong-willed leaders who are ready to do right by their people.

[Mrbluntzy]

There are more than one reason why Africa is poor and could remain so even in the near future, one reason that can not be skipped is bad government and the selfish desires of the leaders who has just the interest of their self and family members at heart more than they do for the citizens and the state development.
Countries in Africa lacks so many infrastructures, employment is skyrocketing, the democracy that is preached is not being practice because after election, leaders that was supposed to win will be pushed aside while INEC put up a biased result and announce the wrong leader. With such situation, how can the country experience growth? Even the government of the Western world support some of these African leaders to win their election because of their interest to exploit the resources of the country.

[Richbased]

Africans are selfish, they only help those who scratch or will scratch their back, it'll be difficult to find a typical African home that extends educational training to someone who doesn't belong to the house or family.

This is very true, i found out that Africans are too self centered hence the reason why they have been backwards among other developing continents in the world, those who are rich only circulates their wealth among their rich allies and within their circle and not extend helping hand to other people who are not wealthy enough in the society. Only few individuals who are wealthy build industries and factories that will supply employment to people, people even go to extreme of hoarding knowledge, when someone has an exceptional knowledge about something he will prefer to die with the knowledge instead of passing it to the next person. Before Africa can be better, it will require them to change their mindset about how they view things, they should learn about humility and also seeing everyone as equal irrespective of their financial capabilities. Corruption is another thing that has eaten deep in most African countries such that it is difficult to deliver good governance to the people and it has been a long lingering case that has not gotten any reliable solution. There are also a lot of vulnerable and uneducated people in Africa who has no access to quality education so these are some of the numerous deficiency that has been hindering the growth of Africa.

[Accardo]

Africans are selfish, they only help those who scratch or will scratch their back, it'll be difficult to find a typical African home that extends educational training to someone who doesn't belong to the house or family.

Corruption is another thing that has eaten deep in most African countries such that it is difficult to deliver good governance to the people and it has been a long lingering case that has not gotten any reliable solution. There are also a lot of vulnerable and uneducated people in Africa who has no access to quality education so these are some of the numerous deficiency that has been hindering the growth of Africa.

Africa has no reliable government department, office heads steal project funds and get away. Obedient citizens stay silent seeing protests malfunction, and voices closed. Freedom signify mimicking the politicians. Dishonest Africans are all on queue waiting to taste power, to fill in family bank accounts. Dependent people get abandoned, and acquire a slight earnings to finance education. The greed is endless, unless a miracle happens the cheating will persevere.

[Ishicryptic]

Africa is not poor in natural and human resources, Africa is one of the most blessed continent in the world. Africa have huge deposit of natural resources, good distribution of fresh and salt water, access to the sea, arable lands and the best weather condition you can think of. Africa is only poor due to their inability to convert these blessings to money and amenities that will benefit her citizens. I don't want to go into much details regarding why they fail to make this transition but the truth is that Africa is not poor per say, what it lack is leadership and when that is fixed, Africa will become the envy of the world.

Africa, is blessed with natural resources and great minds but most of the countries and people in this blessed continent are poor, not because they cannot take their destinies in their hands but because of bad leadership. Most of the leaders of African countries are very corrupt, they only care about what will benefit them without a care about turning their economy around to become prosperous. After decades of being independent from their colonial masters, these former colonial masters still indirectly controls their economic decisions and it favors them that people who are corrupt are kept in power in Africa. Every natural resources that are in Africa, are either owned or they are controlled by Europe and America, they take everything and compensates the African governments, who's leaders then steals most of it.

[Derekfunds]

Many African leaders have been brainwashed which is why many of them only thinks about their well-being without considering the well-being of the people. The white colonists are the ones control many of the raw material and African assets till today. They see the continent as poor, as people that need their financial assistance everytime since the stupid leaders can not work together and fix the continent. Greed has been the reason why African continent will remain poor if the leaders do not think straight and look for a way to make things work again and stop depending of financial assistance from the western world with conditions.

Exactly, the problem with most African leaders is that they are so selfish they don't think of what will benefit everyone they are concerned about their own pocket and I know there are leaders among them that don't like what they are doing but because they are minority there voice won't come out and if they see you are against them they will find a way to eliminate the person and continue with what they are doing because they are cartel, African is suppose to be one of the richest in the world and nicest place but they have destroyed everything.

[Yucky]

When money meant for a state is being hijacked by an individual, when do you think the development of Africa will come from? And it seems that no matter the African country you are in,  it feels like the government officials and people in leadership, go to the same meeting on how to cheat the citizens, how to shut the voice of the people. The terrible government is making Africa move backward in development. Most African countries is underdeveloped, not even developing which is really terrible.

The colonial time was long ago. Now, handing the country to Africans to take care of their fellow Africans has become the bigger issue than the colonial era. It's really terrible how an individual will watch citizens cry, complain, and nothing will be done about it. And if you complain too much, you even risk your safety, because they might come at you and silence you forever. It's really terrible.