Political dinosaurs are in the way of realising Africa’s dream of economic unity
Most governing parties on the continent spend countries’ resources not on development but antidemocratic means to stay in power
The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area has begun the process of creating an eventual $3.4-trillion economic bloc comprising Africa’s 1.3-billion people, which promises to bolster pan-African prosperity once fully implemented. That is, however, only if many of Africa’s rulers and political elites are willing to loosen their narcissistic grip on power.
Despite the continent’s deficits in education, gender equality, health care, security and economic competitiveness, the majority of African governing parties remain preoccupied not with formulating genuine plans for national improvement but strategising antidemocratic ways to ensure their perennial hold on power...
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