Is Africa really poor or poor in managing resources and human development?

[gracreavix]

Africa problem is many but there's one that sticks well. And that my friend is Neocolonialism. You might say Africa has bad leaders, yes it is true. But you never asked all the good ones, why do they all die in such a way that it was planned well. Seems someone is making it seem like we only have bad when the good once just die when they get power. If you doubt me check history. That will tell you the whole story. Check history of great African leaders of countries that want the best for their people and see how all of them died. Mysterious.

[Fiatless]

And as for poverty in Africa, it is most certainly a management problem. History tells us that it is the colonialists' fault why Africans are poor, but what nobody likes to admit is that African leaders were amongst the most corrupt on Earth.

African leaders would not be the most corrupt if they were not aided by developed nations. Most of the resources or money stolen by these corrupt leaders are invested in many developed nations. And these rich nations will not deny that they are aware that these funds were stolen from Africa.

The president of my country has been involved in drug trafficking in the US, and he had to forfeit targeted funds. Criminals like him don't qualify to hold political office. The US has failed to release information regarding this crime because he is a close ally. He is a well-known criminal who has committed several crimes, including moving bullion vans filled with money into his compound a few days before the elections. The money was used for vote buying.

If African leaders are corrupt, then their Western collaborators are also fantastically corrupt. Some of the biggest financial crimes in the history of so many African countries have connections to some nations you think are not corrupt. I am in no way exonerating African leaders from the poverty on the continent, but we also have to admit that there are external enablers.

[Rockstarguy]

And as for poverty in Africa, it is most certainly a management problem. History tells us that it is the colonialists' fault why Africans are poor, but what nobody likes to admit is that African leaders were amongst the most corrupt on Earth.

Even if African countries are independent, they are still controlled by their colonialists in secret, but this is not the only problem that is dragging Africa back in the world.

One of the problems with Africa is that Africans don't really believe in production, to make their own and to depend on what they have produced. Apart from not having that production mindset, African leaders lack good management and a system that can provide good accountability; there will always be corruption. For Africa to do better, there needs to be a working system that can hold leaders accountable for poor management.

[BlackHatCoiner]

If African leaders are corrupt, then their Western collaborators are also fantastically corrupt. Some of the biggest financial crimes in the history of so many African countries have connections to some nations you think are not corrupt. I am in no way exonerating African leaders from the poverty on the continent, but we also have to admit that there are external enablers.

Obviously, the colonialists are the primary reason why Africa became poor, but this is because the colonialists conquered the land. What do the African leaders do in response to the conquest? They could have chosen to resist the enslavement of their people, but instead they chose to sell out and be corrupt. It is primarily Africans who tortured other Africans, not white men.

[Mrbluntzy]

Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

Do you know that this idea was proposed by Muammar Gaddafi? First was Kwame Nkrumah who came up with the idea of forming a United State of African but it didn't work out. Then Gaddafi also pushed for that idea which he did speak of the African countries using one currency but all of those ideas was never established. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_Africa

The continent African is not poor, but whether they are poor, I believe we have all it takes to make Africa a great continent but it's going to take unity and good leaders who have good vision to do that, without it, we can not move forward. Unity is very important for this to work because the saying that "A house divided against itself cannot stand.” is real, most Africans don't like themselves, just lately there was xenophobic attacks in South Africa, what for? That's why it will be difficult to move forward.

[Fiatless]

Obviously, the colonialists are the primary reason why Africa became poor, but this is because the colonialists conquered the land. What do the African leaders do in response to the conquest? They could have chosen to resist the enslavement of their people, but instead they chose to sell out and be corrupt. It is primarily Africans who tortured other Africans, not white men.

To resist enslavement, you need to be militarily and technologically advanced. The hands of some African leaders are tied because they know the consequences of resisting the white men. What happened to Nicolás Maduro when he resisted the oppressors? Economic sanctions and blockades are now a potent tool to subject nations to oppression.

African leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Thomas Sankara, and others refused to collaborate with the enslavers, and they were assassinated. Meanwhile, the white men support corrupt leaders who will do their bidding. A young African leader is resisting enslavement in Burkina Faso, and reports have it that he has survived about 18 assassination attempts.

[Fortify]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail. Could it be the geographical location of Africa? Africa as a continent shouldn't be struggling because it has various types of mineral resources that can turn Africa to one of the strongest continent in the world. The population is huge,there is knowledge etc. But like i said earlier it was set up to fail by those who claim to have discovered Africa. If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

I think firstly it has environmental challenges with large plains of infertile soils and huge deserts. That made and still makes logistics across the continent much harder than the Americas, Europe or Asia. This would have naturally made it more tribal based and those tribes would have many centuries ago held on and battled over the land that enabled them to sustain themselves, losing one water source could have meant death for many people. However it really does seem to struggle in developing further, I saw a video that compared Nigeria (aka a huge country with a massive population) against a small European country. Nigeria had like one major deepwater port to serve the whole country, but European can have countries have dozens even when they are tiny in comparison. It seems that many people still carry that tribe mentality, where they're only looking out for a small group of people rather than caring about anything bigger, yet it's a survival strategy that may necessary and never change now.

[puloweh555]

Let me get this straight. Africa is not poor in resources and human development. Have you used the internet search before creating this topic? Africa has some of the richest natural resources ever, but we have a government that will sell those resources for personal benefit. It is very common in many continents where bad governments don't know what purpose natural resources are for, if not for them to enrich themselves and generation to come.  

The fact that you agree with what the Westerners are saying about Africans is disappointing. A country rich in natural resources is not poor. Money isn't circulating because a few have decided to hoard it.

Exactly. Africa is a country with very abundant natural resources, so you could say the reason why most African countries are underdeveloped is because many officials are corrupt, which makes the country's finances unstable. And all of this happens because many African countries have governments that are prone to coups and power overthrows. Many countries in Africa are very easily influenced by foreign parties, maybe because many of them were former colonies of Britain and France.

So you could say the problem is that Africa has never really had nationalist leaders who truly care about their people. Their leaders are either dictators or military juntas, and even if they have a great leader, they'll eventually turn into a dictator too. Take Robert Mugabe, for example, who was seen as a hero for liberating Zimbabwe from British colonial rule, but then he ruled for 40 years and his family emptied the country's wealth. Besides that, even African countries that are democratic are actually fragile because they depend on sectarian systems (divided by tribe/religion), which are prone to conflict, like Nigeria and Ethiopia. So what happens in African countries that makes them look poor despite having abundant resources is actually caused by greedy rulers.

[M47AK16]

What box are you referring to? The last time I checked almost all the countries in Africa are sovereignty. Meaning they are independently governed.
So I don't think if they all have the same governmental doctrine. So I don't know what box you mean. Although there is this kind of political system I think most African countries practices which is rigging of election for the wrong candidates to emerge winners while the masses votes don't count. In situations like this corruption has already surrounded the leaders and so, they won't care to consider their primary duties which is about the welfare of the masses.
They are most interested in looting public funds that are meant to execute public projects.
It also subjected that those colonized countries are still influenced by their colonial masters and that being could cause economic setback to the countries which is why some of those African countries still suffers over underdevelopments despites their resources and revenues.

That is not how sovereignty works. While I understand that you see a ruler at the top of the nation for all of the countries and you think that they have freedom and they are independent, that is not how it works. If even your money is printed by the French, then you are not free. And on top of that, most of them are not free in the sense that they have dictators at the top of them, and not free democracy neither, sure maybe it is not the west on paper, but most of the dictators are getting their power from the west countries, who do you think armed them and trained them and helped them kill all of the opponents they had?

In the end, Africans do have great nations such as Nigeria, but there are also places like Somalia as well, and they are not the same. All those "African tribes with huts and no water" are not Nigeria; that's a developed nation bigger than even most European nations, except a few big ones. You think Slovenia or Macedonia is bigger than Nigeria? Look again. But of course there are places like that in Africa too. It's a vast continent; you have big, great, beautiful nations, and some places still need help. You can't just consider the entire continent as the same.

[AmaGold70]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail. Could it be the geographical location of Africa? Africa as a continent shouldn't be struggling because it has various types of mineral resources that can turn Africa to one of the strongest continent in the world. The population is huge,there is knowledge etc. But like i said earlier it was set up to fail by those who claim to have discovered Africa. If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

Honestly, Africa is a very continent, and would been very developed like those other developed continent, and countries of the world, bit instead of growing in terms of economic development, the continent is really retarding in economic growth. I will not attribute the economic backwardness to geographical location, rather, I will link it to leadership problem. I know that the other countries, and continent of the world that are now developed were once underdeveloped, but they saw the need to be developed, make amendment in their leadership p, and economic policies, and today they are rich continent. In many countries in Africa leaders rule the way it pleases them, embezzling money, making wrong economic policies, and even when they are out of office nothing happens to them, and such continent with such countries in it will actually find it so difficult to develop.

[Renampun]

If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

But the problem is that most African leaders don't really care about their people and the future of their countries.. What they think about is only power and enriching themselves.. And that is why Africa remains like that despite having so many natural resources and enormous potential because of poor leadership and corruption, and how easily it is divided. So no matter how long it takes, if leaders with this model are allowed to continue in power and corruption is so high, coupled with the majority of the people unwilling to change.. then there is no need to dream that Africa can become a developed and prosperous continent.

[uneng]

And as for poverty in Africa, it is most certainly a management problem. History tells us that it is the colonialists' fault why Africans are poor, but what nobody likes to admit is that African leaders were amongst the most corrupt on Earth.

The history which teaches only that part of the events is hypocritical and avoids touching the sore spot at all costs. Not by accident discussions like this are endless and reach nowhere, because people engaged on them close their eyes to the truth and deny accepting the facts how they are or how they happened.

At same time, it's convenient for african leaders to point their fingers to the colonialists and imperialists, so they can continue ruling as if they aren't a problem for their countries at all.

[Mate2237]

I think that I agree with you on that point that you made, Africa is already set up to fall and one thing that clearly proves this is that most of the things that we depend to get from the westerners are things that we can provide for ourselves as a continent but it is a shame that the mentality of Africans have Been conditioned to always be dependent. Africa isn't poor, but the actual problem is the management of the resources and this is due to the corrupt system. The resources in Africa is enough to make it a sovereign continent but it is quite sad that it is not our reality, these resources are supposed to be able to provide opportunities for a lot of people.

[Cryptomultiplier]

I think that I agree with you on that point that you made, Africa is already set up to fall and one thing that clearly proves this is that most of the things that we depend to get from the westerners are things that we can provide for ourselves as a continent but it is a shame that the mentality of Africans have Been conditioned to always be dependent. Africa isn't poor, but the actual problem is the management of the resources and this is due to the corrupt system. The resources in Africa is enough to make it a sovereign continent but it is quite sad that it is not our reality, these resources are supposed to be able to provide opportunities for a lot of people.

Your point remains to be seen because the failure Africa faces right now stems from governance and external designs of trade which followed the Berlin conference between 1884-1885, without any regards for the vast ethnic or trade network among other reasons.

I don't think having a single currency in Africa is the solution, but with a clear path towards enforcing that foreign companies come to invest here in Africa instead of always exporting our raw materials, making the boundaries of Africa interconnected and investing in the youth and human capital of her countries, Africa can become wealthy, independent and a continent to reckon with globally.

[Taricoins]

Just an unpopular opinion, I don't think we see alot of things that are happening backseat of everything and the involvement western countries has over most of this African countries because of their untapped natural resources. We think we are in the post colonial era but the Westerns still make a lot of decisions for us, that's the problem, just from a personal perspective without proof, most of this domestic wars that happens in rich African countries are being funded by the West to devalue there resources. Just an opinion.

[abhiseshakana]

Many people, when hear or read a word "Africa" what I think always about nature and wildlife with its safari lion and giraffe. its geography and climate especialy extreme hot and its dessert. Africa social and media narratives /Stereotypes such as poverty, low education, starvation and drought, and military conflict the last Africa culture and identity as gold country & rich natural resources.

Based on my superficial observation, based on the news that popped up on my feed i think Africa problem are low institutional integrity such as poor law enforcement, rampant corruption and patronage culture, conflict anf unstable transition of power and government dail in provide goof basic public service. All make investor think many time before make investment in there especially in conflict area.

As underdeveloped and developed country, Africa still has high dependence on selling raw material, which mean its industrialization still in primitive stage, Africa face many constraint to transform its natural resources advantages become industrial advantages. Along with low level education,  human capital lower in priority compared to infrastructure development for industrialization wich caused absence of a wider productive ecosystem to create massive industrialization.

[DanWalker]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail. Could it be the geographical location of Africa? Africa as a continent shouldn't be struggling because it has various types of mineral resources that can turn Africa to one of the strongest continent in the world. The population is huge,there is knowledge etc. But like i said earlier it was set up to fail by those who claim to have discovered Africa. If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

You are absolutely right! I think there are other big reason behind this situation in Africa, beyond the point you mentioned. Such as historical exploitation and traditional thinking of leaders.

You may know that Africa has lot of raw material. But Africa only export its raw material, such as gold, diamond, lithium, at very low price. But it import processed products of these raw material at high price. As a result, real profit goes to the developed world. If they had processed those raw material and sold them then they would have been able to earn even higher profit.

The colonial power drew borders in Africa according to their convenience, which created permanent conflict between different tribes. This political instability has become biggest obstacle to their development in present day.

Currently, several African countries, borrow at high interest rates from the developed world including China. so a large part of their income goes to paying interest, which reduce their opportunity to invest in education and health sector. African countries are lagging behind due to these problem. But if there were strong government and no foreign power interfering then Africa would also be able to develop quite quickly. They have these resources.

[GeorgeJohn]

African is not a poor continent, So many countries in African have so many natural resources they can use to develop their countries, especially the countries that been blessed with different natural resources...

I can say that the challenges that African as a continent is facing, is corrupt leaders, most of the leaders we find in African are very corrupt and they're only interested for their welfare only...

What we have in African is due for African to have different facilities and social amenities, but they dont think fir the betterment of African as whole, even the presidents of African countries, they're lacking behinds in developing theirs countries and also creating employment opportunity for her citizens...African is good but the leaders are the problem.

[slapper]

One currency seems like a good idea. Feels right. However, it would not work, not yet.

Even if you could answer the currency question it would not cure. Intra-African trade remains shamefully low when compared with that of Europe or Asia. Two countries both shipping unprocessed minerals to foreign buyers do not suddenly trade with each other just because they share a banknote. That is not how trade integration works.

So, PAPSS is the better choice at the moment. It enables cross-border payments to occur without the need for all the transactions to pass through London or New York first. Not glamorous. Not a rallying cry. But genuinely functional.

The concept of a single currency should be allowed to stand. Not until the foundations are laid, though.

[knuckey]

Africa and Southeast Asia are rich continents full of natural resources, but due to a lack of knowledge about how to manage natural resources, state income is reduced because many natural resources are managed by foreign parties, and the result is that those who are rich are the managers, not the owners of natural resources.