Why is Africa Struggling to Bridge its Development Gap?

Editor:Pr HAKIZIMANA Maurice

The debate on Africa’s underdevelopment cannot be reduced to a simple question of leadership, even though leadership plays a decisive role in the implementation and success of public policies. Other historical, economic, and institutional factors also explain this situation.

1. The Colonial Legacy

Africa’s colonial past left deep and lasting scars:

• A Divided Africa: Arbitrary borders fragmented the continent, limiting social interaction and the free movement of people and goods.
• Weak Trade Relations: African countries trade very little among themselves, preferring to export to their former colonial powers.
• A Dependent Economy: The colonies were made to specialize in the production of raw materials (coffee, cocoa, tea, minerals, timber, etc.) to benefit Western industries.
• An Inadequate Education System: Designed to train administrative assistants for the colonial administration, it did not encourage the rise of a technical and scientific elite capable of industrializing the continent.

2. The Period of Independence

African independence movements, though full of hope, often occurred hastily and without real preparation for economic and political autonomy.

• Continuation of Colonial Policies: Many states maintained the same economic and administrative structures inherited from the colonizer.
• Lack of Regional Solidarity: The fragmentation of the continent worsened, hindering effective cooperation between states.
• Conflicts and Coups d’État: Civil wars and power struggles significantly slowed development. War is the very antithesis of progress—it destroys infrastructure, divides peoples, and drives away talent.

3. Over 60 Years After Independence: What Can Be Done to Catch Up?

A. Fully Embrace Democracy

Accepting a democratic system of governance is essential. It channels citizens’ ambitions, ensures political stability, and promotes transparency in public management.

B. Strengthen Regional Integration

It is urgent to transform existing regional organizations into genuine African development unions capable of carrying real weight on the global stage.

This involves:

• Free movement of people and goods, and freedom of establishment;
• Elimination of administrative and tariff barriers between member states;
• Shared exploitation of common resources (water, energy, oil, etc.);
• Ending raw material exports in favor of local processing to create added value, jobs, and expertise.

The prices of our products should no longer be determined in London or New York—but in Africa itself.

4. A Collective Awakening

Africa possesses all the wealth necessary to become a prosperous continent: vast fertile lands, abundant water, constant sunlight, and a rich and coveted subsoil.

We must ensure that our populations are the first to benefit from these resources through the development of educational, medical, road, and industrial infrastructures.

It is time for a genuine collective awakening. Africa must unite to end this historical injustice and build its own model of development.

Why not take inspiration from the European Union model? A single currency, open borders, and over 85 years of peace—proof that successful integration can transform a continent.

Source (Post): Uwibajije Sylvestre

This world,

HAKIZIMANA Maurice

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