Africa is plagued by a myriad of problems, the biggest of which is poor leadership, mismanagement and theft of resources by leaders. Congo for example is rich and abundant in many minerals yet is one of the poorest and unstable countries. Look at the leadership since independence, its leaders who have been in cohorts with western powers, have been amassing wealth and hiding it in western countries especially Switzerland, meanwhile ordinary citizens remain poor.
Contrast that with South Africa where wealth from resources is reinvested back in the country. Botswana has had good leadership whereby wealth from diamond mining has been reinvested back in the country uplifting the living standards of citizens. Good management of a country's resources is where it's at to achieve economic growth.
There was a time the Zimbabwean dollar was nearly at par with the US dollar, western sanctions and the dictatorship of Mugabe changed all that for the worst. Nigeria has oil reserves but has the ordinary citizen seen any benefit? it's a clique of few people that keep reaping the benefits.
The bottom line is that Africa is in need of good leaders who follow the law, are not corrupt and work for the people at large. The west is not innocent either, they have policies in place that keep the vicious cycle of poverty going in Africa while they get cheap raw materials.
I could write lots more but good leadership is all we need in Africa. Look at Sudan at the moment, a power struggle between two army generals is about to ruin that country for good, another unwanted warzone.
Good leadership, equitable management of resources, just laws and constitutions are what will save Africa. Thank you for sharing :}