African Leaders Discuss Consolidating Democratic Gains and Promoting African Prosperity
It was in front of a crowd of hundreds that leaders of Malawi, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Cape Verde spoke about the big gains their countries have made in the last few years. For the president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, the hardest thing was restoring relations with global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, or IMF.
“By the time I became president we were off track with the IMF. We had to go back to the IMF, strengthen governance institutions, make sure that we get the level of comfort we required in order for other donors to come back including the UK, which had cut off relationship with Malawi // We also had to do several things including to repeal all the laws that I feel were controversial and were against human rights and good governance,” she said.
For Senegalese President Macky Sall, who’s only been in power for about 12 months, it’s been a year of economic and political reforms. It may be too early to evaluate the results. His agenda, he says, is still a work in progress.
“We are trying to improve governance, we are seeking to increase private investments, and we are trying to strengthen the rule of law and to have an independent justice system,” speaking through an interpreter.
But Mr. Sall also says today’s Africa is different.
“The Africa of 2013 has nothing to do with the clichés that are often expressed where you talk about civil wars, coup d’états. Bear in mind that you [The West] had your own wars, civil wars, and there were wars in Europe up to 1945. // Africa has just become independent in the 1960s, so it’s normal there should be some conflicts remaining here and there. And we had composite borders that were created by the colonialists. [As for] the overall dynamics of the continent, we are moving toward prosperity, towards democracy,” he insisted on.
Mr. Sall reminded the audience that Africa’s the cradle of mankind, and can be magical in terms of diversity, natural resources and its men and women. It’s well worth visiting, he says, and told the crowd that his country’s capital Dakar is only a 6 hour-plane ride from Washington drawing laughs and applause.
Sall’s Sierra Leonean counterpart, Ernest Bai Koroma, told the audience that his country is no longer the one of blood diamonds. Instead, it’s become an investment destination.
“Sierra Leone is now the place to do business. This has been recognized by the World Bank and the IMF. Last year our economy was referred to as [one of the] hottest economies; a place to do investments. We registered the highest rate of growth that is not comparable to other African countries. This is a result of the measures we have taken, the democracy we are building, the openness of our economies and the structures we are putting in place to guarantee that investment is not only attracted but it is also protected,” Mr. Koroma said.
Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves of Cape Verde believes it’s the responsibility of African leaders to develop a clear strategy for the continent’s future that takes advantage of all of its assets. The island, located along the Western coast of Africa, is said to be one of the most democratic nations in the region. But in order to sustain a democracy, Neves who spoke through an interpreter, says certain things are needed.
“In order to have development, it’s essential that there is peace and stability and it’s essential to also have democracy in the countries. There is no development without stability and there is no development without democracy,” adding that Africa still faces many challenges, but that it’s also the continent of the future.
“It has enormous talent, enormous capabilities. All we need to do is gather all this talent and make it work toward the development of Africa,” Neves said.
These African leaders said they came to the United States not as beggars this time. They are here to show a new Africa – one that’s on the move. Therefore they are in search of a true partnership where everyone will benefit.
Source: Voice of America
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