August 2012 www.un.org/africarenewal

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Africa's booming economies: the next global frontier?

Rio summit: between rhetoric and hope Surge in girls’ schooling Building peace from the ground up Contents August 2012 Vol. 26 No. 2 Formerly ‘Africa Recovery’ Special feature Africa’s booming 16 economies Strong growth attracts interest of global investors, but huge challenges still lie ahead

1 8 Mining for development 2 0 Tourism slowly coming of age 2 2 Harnessing African stock exchanges 2 5 Private equity: new cash for expanding business

Students in a Burundi classroom: A number of African countries have Also in this issue greatly increased school enrolments. UNICEF / Pawel Krzysiek 3 Rio summit keeps hopes alive 5 ‘Green economy’: rhetoric or path to future? Editor-in-Chief 6 African schools keep eye on the prize Masimba Tafirenyika 9 Is democracy in West Africa under threat? Managing Editor 12 Building peace from the ground up Ernest Harsch

27 Mali’s Timbuktu suffers rebel fury Staff Writers Kingsley Ighobor Jocelyne Sambira Departments Research and Media Liaison Rebecca Moudio 28 Wired Aissata Haidara 29 Appointments Design & Production 31 Books John Gillespie Administration Bo Li Cover photo: Distribution Aerial view of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at night. Alamy / AfriPics.com Atar Markman Lindsay Thomas Africa Renewal is published in English and organizations. Articles from this magazine French by the Strategic Communications may be freely reprinted, with attribution to Division of the United Nations Department the author and to “United Nations Africa of Public Information. Its contents do not Renewal,” and a copy of the reproduced necessarily reflect the views of the United article would be appreciated. Copyrighted Nations or the publication’s supporting photos may not be reproduced.

Subscribe to Africa Renewal www.un.org/africarenewal Correspondence Africa Renewal offers free subscriptions to should be addressed to: individual readers. Please send your request The Editor, Africa Renewal to Circulation at the address to the left or by facebook.com/africarenewal Room M-16031 e-mail to [email protected]. Institutional United Nations, NY 10017-2513, USA, subscriptions are available for thirty-five twitter.com/africarenewal Tel: (212) 963-6857, Fax: (212) 963-4556 US dollars, payable by international money order or a cheque in US dollars drawn on a E-mail: US bank, to the “United Nations” and sent to Africa Renewal is printed at the United Nations, [email protected] Circulation at the address to the left. New York, on recycled paper. Rio summit keeps African hopes alive Some gains, plus commitments to future sustainable development talks

By Kingsley Ighobor

frican expectations were high for the United Nations A Conference on Sustainable Development, the biggest UN summit ever. The conference, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, was “too impor- tant to fail,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the outset. Under the theme of “The Future We Want,” many of the 100 heads of state and more than 40,000 participants demanded ambi- Tree nursery in Ghana: Participants at the tious and measurable outcomes to anchored its case on two broad princi- Rio summit pledged to plant 100 million address sustainability issues such as the ples: that the continent is making serious trees by 2017. Alamy / GS International “green economy,” climate change and so efforts towards sustainable development on. Yet when it was over, the “Rio+20” and that the world should recognize and At the summit, the coordinator of summit, as it was commonly called, left support those efforts. African negotiators, Macharia Kamau a heated debate over whether those goals of Kenya, said that “the ability of African had been met. African position countries to implement agreements on The 14-page statement presented many sustainable development is only possible For African delegates, the general view positions, including a call for a stronger, if they are empowered with the resources was that while the continent did not independent and well financed UN and means to undertake development come away with a basketful of goodies, Environment Programme (UNEP), that will protect biodiversity and not it also did not leave with empty hands. which is based in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP lead to climate change.” There was no Izabella Teixeira, Brazil’s environ- should have “secure, stable, additional concrete commitment on this, although ment minister, noted that not everyone and predictable financing to fulfil its further talks are planned in the future. was going to be happy with the result. mandate,” argued the African statement. Negotiating with 193 nations to agree on Even though the Rio outcome document Refocused attention consensus outcomes would inevitably gave few specifics on strengthening South African President Jacob Zuma, be a grinding task, she said. Some argu- UNEP, delegates nevertheless agreed who was very active in Rio, said that the ments will prevail, some will not. that the programme needs bolstering. “outcomes have refocused the atten- tion of the world leaders to the daunting Africa’s preparations for Rio+20 began Africa also asked developed countries challenges of addressing global poverty, with a meeting of its environment to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross inequality and the deteriorating state of ministers in Ethiopia in October 2011. national product (GNP) as aid to devel- the environment.” There they hammered out a detailed oping countries and canvassed for “equi- consensus statement that was later table, durable and development-oriented Sunita Narain, an Indian environ- adopted by the African Union. Africa solutions to debt problems.” mentalist, went as far as to call the Rio

August 2012 3 is UN under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs.

A recent survey of 3,000 business leaders by the MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group found that 70 per cent are incorpo- rating sustainability into their business strategy. The survey reported that many companies in Africa plan to increase their sustainability commitments. And more African delegates in Rio explain their organizations are cutting greenhouse gas continent’s aspirations for the summit. “The formulation of the SDGs, and emissions and protecting biodiversity. UN / Maria Elisa Franco their interface with the post-2015 development agenda, will be one of the Summit participants also pledged to outcome document a “victory for the most important follow-up actions initi- plant 100 million trees by 2017, empower developing world … because it reiterates ated by the Rio+20 summit,” argues 5,000 women entrepreneurs in green the principle of common but differenti- Martin Khor, executive director of the economy businesses in Africa and ated responsibilities and respective South Centre, a Switzerland-based annually recycle 800,000 tonnes of poly- capabilities.” That terminology relates organization of developing country vinyl chloride, a commonly used plastic. to a shared vision for combating climate governments. “At least the world has change based upon each country’s social agreed to continue to promote Hard to measure and economic capacities. sustainable development,” adds Manish While some African leaders remain Bapna, acting president of the World hopeful, the Africa Progress Panel, a Ms. Narain also noted that the summit Resources Institute, a US-based group of eminent individuals headed “did not dismantle the framework of environmental think tank. by former UN Secretary-General Kofi justice and equity in global negotiations.” Annan, believes that the conference She thus alluded to the successful effort Business and civil society commitments were too vague: “The lack by developing countries, especially India, In contrast to the gradual approach of commitment to defined and measur- China and those in Africa, to push back seemingly favoured by governments, it able sustainable development goals a proposal by the rich countries to set appears that businesses, non-govern- at the Rio+20 summit is a profoundly targets and timetables towards a “green mental organizations (NGOs), civil disturbing outcome. We have an obli- economy.” Such targets, developing society groups, universities and others gation to the world’s poorest and most countries feared, could have led to trade are revving up momentum. The UN vulnerable people, who bear the brunt of restrictions or other sanctions if they reports that, together with governments, the global ecological crisis.” did not move quickly enough. Instead, such groups made about 700 voluntary the outcome document states that each commitments during the summit, total- Others believe the conference did not country will move at its own pace. ling more than $500 billion. Of that adequately reflect a number of positive amount, $50 billion will be used for an developments around the world. “Just Commitments initiative by the UN Secretary-General look at Germany’s shift to clean energy,” African negotiators, especially to achieve universal access to sustain- notes Mr. Bapna, “Niger’s efforts to from South Africa, wanted specific able energy by 2030. re-green its landscape or Rio’s just- commitments on Sustainable launched bus rapid transit system.” Development Goals (SDGs), which are Bindu Lohani, vice-president of the expected to replace the Millennium Asian Development Bank, reminded There is no doubt that the conference did Development Goals after their expira- delegates that eight development banks not meet everyone’s expectations. Yet tion in 2015. The delegates agreed to will invest $175 billion in sustainable many elements in the outcome document constitute by next year a 30-member transport in developing countries. satisfied some African delegates. The working group under the UN General next challenge is for world leaders, Assembly to report on such global José María Figueres, former president businesses and NGOs to come through SDGs. In addition, there will be an of Costa Rica, said, “Those who have on their promises. “The speeches are intergovernmental process, super- failed you, Mr. Sha, are the govern- over. Now the work begins,” said Mr. Ban. vised by the General Assembly, that ments, not the CEOs, not the NGOs.” “Rio+20 has affirmed fundamental prin- by 2014 will recommend ways to He was referring to Sha Zukang, who ciples — renewed essential commitments finance a sustainability strategy. headed the conference secretariat and — and given us new direction.” 4 August 2012 ‘Green economy’: empty rhetoric or pathway to future? At Rio summit, African delegates are skeptical of the benefits

By Stephen Leahy Rio de Janeiro

ith current trends leading the earth to disaster, W world leaders and some 40,000 people converged on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June in the hope of charting a path towards a better, more Solar panels in Mali: More African countries are sustainable future for everyone that the green economy, and especially the moving towards use of clean energy sources. many are calling the “green economy.” linkage between poverty alleviation Underlining the urgency, Sha Zukang, and the environment.” Panos / Giacomo Pirozzi secretary-general of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, said more “This is not something we do because the The formal outcome of the Rio+20 than a year before the summit began: international community is asking us to summit was a document, “The Future “If we continue on our current path, we do it,” Mr. Kaberuka added. “We do it for We Want,” that reaffirmed or recalled will bequeath material and environ- Africa because we are closely linked to what had been agreed to years ago mental poverty, not prosperity, to our nature in terms of our livelihoods.” but offered little new. Instead, world children and grandchildren.” leaders simply agreed to more talks to Achim Steiner, executive director of strengthen UN institutions, examine However, sharp tensions and distrust the UN Environment Programme whether to provide developing countries between countries of the North and (UNEP), which has been a driving force with finance and technology, and estab- South and between civil society and in promoting the concept of a green lish new sustainable development goals. governments — amidst general global economy, was upbeat. “World leaders and economic uncertainty — ultimately governments have today agreed that a Resources resulted in vague agreements that transition to a green economy — backed Going into the summit, developing left few satisfied. “It could have been by strong social provisions — offers a countries called on the industrial- worse” was a common sentiment at the key pathway towards a sustainable 21st ized nations to provide additional conclusion of the summit, known as century,” he said at the conclusion. financing of more than $30 billion Rio+20 after the first Earth Summit in annually over 2013–17 — and $100 the same city two decades ago. But South Africa’s Kumi Naidoo, the billion per year after that — to help executive director of Greenpeace them green their economies. ‘Half full, half empty’ International, strongly disagreed. The summit ended up being “a glass “All we have witnessed is three days of “We are hoping that the green economy half-full, glass half-empty situation for empty rhetoric and greenwash from will bear fruit when it comes to Africa,” said Donald Kaberuka, presi- world leaders,” he said. “Governments combating desertification, poverty, and dent of the African Development Bank have failed to produce the historic deal protecting the environment,” said Adam (AfDB), on the final day in Rio. “We’re we need to address the perfect storm of making progress on thinking about crises: of equity, ecology and economy.” see page 30

August 2012 5 African schools keep an eye on the prize

With sharp increases in enrolment in a number of African countries, teachers often must face over-crowded classrooms.

UNESCO / Petterik Wiggers

According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), school attendance surged from 59 per cent to 96.1 per cent between 2005 and 2011. The number of girls entering school for the first time was actually higher than the number of boys. Meanwhile, the average number of students per class is estimated at 83, the agency adds.

Children as old as 10 or 12 were enrolling for the first time, Concilie Nizigiyimana, a state inspector for schools in the rural province surrounding Bujumbura, the capital, told Africa Renewal. “Most of the families in the area couldn’t afford to send their kids to school,” she says. “So when school became free, we received a huge number of children. Some classes hold as many as 100 pupils for one teacher. And we often have to borrow desks and benches floor trying to balance their note- from the secondary school class- Meeting the target books and write at the same time. rooms.” for universal The lucky few who get desks are tightly squeezed together on the same The government’s “double shift” primary education bench, elbows touching as they scrawl system eases the pressure on the notes while the teacher talks and classrooms, though it places a huge writes on a chalkboard. The metal burden on teachers, who are forced By Jocelyne Sambira sheet that serves as a roof makes the to teach two sessions in one day. For room hot and stuffy. the teachers, this system effectively crams two school days into one small, dusty, sparsely It is not an unusual scene in the calendar day, as one US Agency for furnished building of mud East African nation emerging from International Development report A bricks serves as a classroom a 13-year civil war. Very little has put it. Over time, it erodes the quality for pupils at a primary school in changed since the country scrapped of education. Buterere, a town on the outskirts of fees for primary school in September Burundi’s capital. The room is packed 2005 — except for the growing class- A poster child? with a sea of small bodies in khaki rooms. The building of new facilities Yet the lack of teachers, the overfilled uniforms, some sprawling on the dirt has been painfully slow. classrooms and the scarcity of textbooks 6 August 2012 and school supplies — none of that could stem the flow of new students.

Burundi could easily be the education poster child for the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has all the makings of an MDG success story: notable progress in a populous and extremely poor country with low literacy rates and a heavy depen- dence on foreign aid. The UN Human Development Report 2011 states that 56.4 per cent of Burundi’s rural popu- lation and 66.5 per cent of its urban population are considered to be living in poverty. It often tops the list of least developed countries that have made remarkable education advances, along with Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania and Togo.

In sub-Saharan Africa overall, enrol- ment rates for children of primary school age increased from 58 per cent to 76 per cent between 1999 and 2010, according to the Millennium Boys and girls in a Burundi classroom: Development Goals Report 2012, and fell short on quality. The public While enrolment has surged, the gender prepared by the UN Department of response was nevertheless huge. gap has narrowed as well. Economic and Social Affairs. Several countries in the region have also These young democracies dug deep UNICEF / Pawel Krzysiek succeeded in reducing their relatively into their national treasuries, mobi- high out-of-school rates, even as their lizing funds and adjusting budgets 1999 and 2008. Much of the increase primary-school-age populations are to pay for the costly initiatives. This was spent at the primary level. growing. But like Burundi, many was in line with the 2000 Dakar Ethiopia nearly doubled its educa- of these countries are facing major Framework for Action — a reaffirma- tion budget but also allotted a share challenges. tion of the 1990 World Declaration on to secondary education. Meanwhile, Education for All, a pact to strengthen other heavy education spenders have Strong political backing efforts towards improving educa- been Rwanda, Mozambique, Senegal After Zimbabwe earlier, in September tion — which recognized the impor- and Tanzania. 1994 Malawi became one of the first tance of backing political promises African countries to embrace free and with financial commitments. Once Closing the gender gap compulsory primary education for domestic funds were released, inter- Increasing the enrolment rate of all grades, with Kenya and Lesotho national donors were convinced to girls to equal that of boys has been a following suit. As in Burundi, the elimi- lend their support as well. priority for all of Africa, with 16 coun- nation of school fees became a powerful tries succeeding in achieving gender electoral strategy. According to the 2011 Education parity in primary education. Gambia, for All Global Monitoring Report of Guinea, Mauritania and Senegal Malawi pioneered what the World the UN Educational, Scientific and have stood out, notes a recent assess- Bank describes as the “big bang Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ment of the MDGs by the African approach.” These countries aggres- countries in sub-Saharan Africa have Development Bank (AfDB). sively enforced the policy of free posted an average annual increase education — hard and fast. Never of 4.6 per cent in their education The bank also seems to argue that mind that in most cases the initiative budgets. In Burundi, the report notes, gender parity in enrolment is likely to was poorly planned, lacked suffi- education spending doubled as a share be achieved on the continent by 2015 if cient funds, was implemented slowly of the gross national product between the current trend continues. Not so, says

August 2012 7 UNESCO, which points to sub-Saharan primary education are becoming more “Africa is concerned that the focus on Africa as the region with the widest uncertain. Until the recent global MDGs may be lost. [African leaders] gender gap at the elementary level. economic turmoil, Africa registered don’t want the current effort to let up. strong economic growth, creating a They are understandably concerned In many African societies, girls have positive environment for progress in that some other discussions are going to long come last, since boys are gener- education. But the economic difficul- detract from the goals.” ally accorded higher status. In the past, ties among European and other donor when parents decided whom to send to nations — which have been helping Mr. Sundaram was alluding to the school, the choice for them was obvious. to fund some of Africa’s educational recent UN Conference on Sustainable Removing the cost factor has made successes — could threaten recent Development in Rio de Janeiro, which basic education possible for young girls gains. UNESCO reports that in 2008 emphasized additional priorities. “The as never before. the flow of aid to basic education in sub- new thing,” he said, “is environmental Saharan Africa fell by around 6 per cent sustainability.” Yet convincing African leaders that per primary-school-age child. investing in girls’ education is good for Meanwhile, most African countries are the economy has not been easy, says Eye on the prize refusing to be deterred by new hurdles Amina Az-Zubair, former assistant to the African governments have shown that or the ticking clock. The introduction president of Nigeria, who was recently providing free primary education in of free, compulsory primary school has named UN special adviser on post-2015 countries with limited resources is been good for sub-Saharan Africa in development planning. Nevertheless, she possible. But national economies need more ways than one. It has mobilized said in a World Bank interview, “I think to become vibrant enough that interna- considerable funds in state coffers, it has been shown over and over again tional support is no longer necessary. increased cooperation with donors and that with girls’ education, there is an boosted public trust in governments. impact on maternal mortality in the right Moreover, getting more kids in school direction. There is definitely a skill set and keeping them there is linked with Kenya is pulling out all stops to reach of what we gain in the home in terms of other key development goals such as the finish line. It has introduced an continuing that education.” ending hunger and combating HIV/ Education Act that could bring in AIDS, malaria and other diseases. substantially more money for building All in all, gender disparities in educa- African leaders are therefore worried schools. It is even mulling a tough bill tion across the globe and on the by the possibility that the international to force parents to send their kids to continent remain considerable. A community may slacken its support for school or risk prison. Such measures, tuition-free education does not neces- the MDGs, comments Jomo Kwame Kenya’s leaders hope, could help keep sarily erase the stereotypes or cultural Sundaram, UN assistant secretary- the promise to make primary education barriers that hinder girls’ access to general for economic development. accessible to all. school. Conditions in schools must also be made more welcoming and safe for girls. The UNESCO Institute for Gross primary school enrolment ratios Statistics found that the absence of Burundi and sub-Saharan Africa separate-sex toilets discouraged girls from attending school regularly and Burundi girls Burundi boys sub-Saharan girls sub-Saharan boys that they are more vulnerable to sexual 180 abuse, exploitation and disease. 160 157 155 140 Not on track for 2015 120 So far, on most of the education targets, 100 105 97 African countries continue to perform 80 87 well. Net primary education enrolment 60 74 has increased in most African coun- 40 56 tries, if not all. But sub-Saharan Africa 45 20 is also home to 43 per cent of the world’s out-of-school children. 0

With three years left before the 2015 1999 2010 2001 2005 2003 2007 2008 2002 2006 2009 2004 deadline for meeting the MDG targets, 2000 prospects for achieving universal Source: UN Africa Renewal from data taken from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, www.uis.unesco.org, July 2012 8 August 2012 Is democracy under threat in West Africa?

"No more coups in Africa," declare Coups in Mali elections in Mali and Guinea-Bissau. demonstrators in Bamako, Mali, during a Senegal, where his office is based, visit by a delegation from the Economic and Guinea-Bissau, just managed to escape a violent Community of West African States.

turn. Electoral violence in Nigeria Reuters / Luc Gnago democratic in April 2011 caused the deaths of defence in Senegal more than a thousand people, while terrorist violence — led by an Islamist some have been successful. Something group called Boko Haram — has since must be done to tamp down this trend, escalated, leading to many more Mr. Djinnit told council members. By Lansana Gberie deaths and destruction in the country. Democracy more the norm n May, Said Djinnit, head of Also last year, a simmering civil war Because of West Africa’s past experi- the UN Office for West Africa in Côte d’Ivoire was reignited after ence with coups and civil wars, it was I (UNOWA), briefed Security the incumbent president, Laurent inevitable that the latest develop- Council members on what he saw Gbagbo, refused to honour an electoral ments would induce strong anxieties. as a disquieting trend in West verdict against him. In fact, over the Yet for the past 10 years, elections Africa. During the preceding two past year, Africa has experienced and peaceful changes of government months, Mr. Djinnit told council eight such unconstitutional or extra- were becoming more the norm. Some members, military coups had constitutional attempts to change of the region’s long-lasting wars, like aborted preparations for democratic governments or to hold on to power, and those in Sierra Leone and Liberia,

August 2012 9 were ended, and democratic elections unconstitutionally, a position later a faltering campaign against Tuareg brought in more capable governments. endorsed by the UN Security Council. rebels in the north of the country and seized power from President Amadou That Africa as a whole is becoming Mr. Djinnit’s alarm and the swift Toumani Touré. ECOWAS promptly more democratic, stable and prosperous condemnation of the coups in Mali and condemned the coup and imposed as a result of frequent elections was Guinea-Bissau — first by the Economic financial and other sanctions on Mali. celebrated even by the mildly “Afro- Community of West African States pessimist” London magazine The (ECOWAS), then by the AU and the This was not simply a case of the Economist. In July 2010 it commented, Security Council — were therefore military going awry: external factors “Only a decade ago countries such as predictable. Yet the manner in which clearly played a decisive role in the Sierra Leone and Liberia were bywords these developments have played out turn of events. The problem had to for anarchy and bloodshed. Now their suggests a complicated picture. do with the resulting return to Mali people vote enthusiastically. It will be of tens of thousands of migrants, hard even for dictators to take that right Guinea-Bissau has been an exception including a few thousand heavily away altogether, for the experience of to the overall trend of democratization armed and battle-hardened Tuareg elections, even flawed ones, seems to in West Africa: the country has fighters who had fled Libya following help embed democracy.” experienced five military coups in the the overthrow of the dictator past decade, and no elected president Muammar al-Qaddafi. These fighters In February 2009, following coups has served out his term. So when gave new potency to the few and in Mauritania and Guinea and an soldiers seized power on 12 April largely contained Tuareg separat- attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau, and imprisoned interim President ists in northern Mali, leading to the the African Union (AU) enunciated a Raimundo Pereira, Prime Minister rebels’ capture of the three northern policy of zero tolerance for all coups. Carlos Gomes Junior and several other regions of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu It condemned the “resurgence of the senior officials, aborting preparations and a proclamation of secession from scourge of coups d’état in Africa” and for a run-off presidential election, southern Mali. declared that it will never recognize the move did not come as a particular a government that comes to power shock. There are wider implications for the region, beyond Mali itself. A report Setback in Mali by a UN inter-agency mission to the Rebels in northern Mali: After the fall of Mali, however, was a celebrated Sahel in January to assess the impact the Qaddafi regime in neighbouring Libya, case of democratic awakening in of the return of about 420,000 migrant thousands of ex-fighters from there have West Africa, so the events there workers to Mali, Niger and Mauritania returned to their home countries with did take many by surprise. On 22 predicted broader instability. The heavy armaments, spreading instability March, soldiers led by a young officer mission found that Libyan small arms, throughout the Sahel region. named Amadou Sanogo abandoned explosives, rocket-propelled grenades Reuters / Adama Diarra and small-calibre anti-aircraft cannons mounted on pick-ups were finding their way into the hands of diverse separatists and other rebels. Groups like Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Nigeria’s Boko Haram were already flocking to Mali in mid-2011. Many parts of Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad have been overwhelmed by the returnees from Libya, 95 per cent of whom are male, poorly educated, aged 20-40 and embittered. AQIM was providing relief for some of the returnees, facilitating potential recruitment and popular support, the mission was told.

According to the mission, the most advanced of the measures adopted to deal with these problems were 10 August 2012 probably those taken under Mali’s Special Programme for Peace, Security and Development in the North, a pet project of President Touré, although there were local concerns about poor management. Barely two months after the report was issued, the coup took place, and Mr. Touré later fled to Senegal.

Averting crisis in Senegal When Mr. Touré arrived in Senegal in April as a refugee, the scene was steeped in pathos. Less than two months earlier, Mali, with the dignified Mr. Touré presiding over an electoral process in which he was not participating, seemed to stand taller than Senegal, which was then deep in a morass created by its fumbling president.

Senegal has been a constitutional democracy since it gained indepen- Residents of Dakar celebrate the election of dence from France in 1960, and has What accounted for the different a new president: Senegal has a long tradi- suffered no coup or serious political outcomes in Mali and Senegal? First, tion of democratic institutions and its army upheaval. This would suggest that of course, was the spreading rebellion has never tried to stage a coup. elections had become routine. in Mali, bolstered by Libyan arms. Also However, President Abdoulaye Wade, important is that the two countries Reuters / Joe Penney who came to power in 2000 and was have rather different historical experi- already in his eighties, introduced a ences, with electoral institutions and temptation for rogue leaders to new constitution. The Constitutional a democratic culture much stronger exploit ethnic and other fault lines. Court issued a curious legal judgment in Senegal than in Mali. In fact, the The problem is that there seems to permitting Mr. Wade to run for a four communes of the French colony be no better alternative. third term, maintaining that since the of Senegal enjoyed a remarkable demo- constitution was new, his first term cratic franchise dating back to the 19th A June report by the New York–based could not be counted. The argument century. History does matter. International Peace Institute on had a narrowly legalistic logic that “Elections and Stability in West was lost on most Senegalese. All they Election triggers Africa” recommends a creative knew was that the constitution said Yet Senegal’s democratic traditions approach to electoral assistance. the president should not serve more did not prevent pre-election tensions It suggests that external electoral than two terms, and Mr. Wade had and violence, suggesting that even assistance be integrated within a already served two. reasonably strong democratic broader conflict-prevention strategy systems in the region are vulnerable. that gives attention to the political There were mass protests, leading to Vulnerable to what? In all the cases aspects of the electoral process, as burned public buildings and several cited, elections were either taking well as the technical ones. deaths. Senegalese — and the world — place or approaching. prepared for the worst. But when the Safeguarding elections, in other elections finally came in February, Mr. Are elections becoming, as the UK words, should be seen as just one Wade secured only 34.8 per cent in the political scientist and Africa expert component of a longer-term first round. In the run-off the following Dennis Austin suggests, a “spur to commitment to building democracy. month, he was crushed by 51-year old violence” in the fragile democracies Also important are the growing calls Macky Sall, who had previously served of West Africa? Competitive politics, on the international community to as his prime minister. Following his while attractive, clearly add depth stand firm in not recognizing any humiliating rebuff, Mr. Wade handed to the sense of division in diverse coup, as espoused by the African power over to Mr. Sall. societies, since there is a strong Union.

August 2012 11 Building peace from the ground up

Voters queue up for a referendum on a new African civil organizations are Key roles for civil constitution in Kenya in 2010: Activists especially well placed for such society in keeping efforts, notes Chukwuemeka Eze, mobilized in large numbers to help get out programme director of the West the vote. Reuters / Thomas Mukoya violence at bay Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), a regional civil society organizations,” in close collaboration group headquartered in Accra, Ghana. with African governments and regional By Ernest Harsch Nairobi That is because they often have much organizations. closer links to local communities than do either national governments Whether they came from Kenya, Côte ith peace agreements or international agencies. “The best d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco ending wars across and most sustainable peacebuilding or elsewhere, various civil society W Africa, thousands of local process should be locally generated, activists delivered a similar message communities have in recent years and externally supported,” he told at a brain-storming session on “peace, embarked on the long road of rebuilding Africa Renewal. While the United stability and development in Africa” and revival. The course is daunting: not Nations and other external institutions held in Nairobi, Kenya, last December. only to generate productive livelihoods certainly can be helpful, Mr. Eze adds, Although organized by the UN’s in difficult economic times, but also to programmes to consolidate peace Office of the Special Advisor on Africa avoid new eruptions of violence. must be “driven by African civil society (OSAA), the meeting did not dwell on 12 August 2012 official UN peacebuilding activities, but instead highlighted the central role of African actors, whether from civil society, governments, regional organizations or the African Union, the continent’s leading political body. One aim of the get-together, says OSAA, was to “learn from African experiences,” so that the UN and other international agencies can better align their work with African priorities.

Viewed from strife-torn western Côte d’Ivoire, it is clear that external inter- ventions do not always match local needs, notes About Karno Ouattara, a coordinator for the non-governmental Search for Common Ground. When officials from US and other donor agencies come to help vulnerable people, he told Africa Renewal, “They pick solutions that have worked more or less in another place, and try to apply it, not taking into account the reality of this place.”

Identifying problems While much attention in Côte d’Ivoire has been devoted to resolving the national political conflict, communi- Traditional chiefs meet in a strife-torn ties have been grappling with various established a common farm, planted community in western CÔte d'Ivoire: disputes and tensions of their own, rubber trees and started a fishpond. Civil society activists argue that women Mr. Ouattara points out. Some were and youth also need to be given a voice worsened by the partisan warfare of Results may not be apparent within to help resolve local conflicts. the past decade, but have local causes the short times allotted by many UN / Ky Chung that have not disappeared with the externally funded peacebuilding end of the war. There are “all kinds projects. “We come to stay with of conflicts,” Mr. Ouattara observes, people for a long time,” Mr. Ouattara ‘Listen to local voices’ relating to land, family disputes and emphasizes. “Even if they say there Thomas Jaye, a long-time rights the marginalization of youth and is peace, we continue working with activist from neighbouring Liberia, women. “Youth and women really have them. Because peace is really a concurs. If peacebuilding efforts no place to talk.” process, and it takes time.” are to be effective, he told Africa Renewal, one must “listen to the He and other trainers for Search for Many of the “micro-projects” that local voices. What is it that Common Ground typically spend time UN personnel designed for demobi- people want?” trying to help community members lized ex-fighters in Côte d’Ivoire have first identify their problems and then failed, Mr. Ouattara asserts, because Accurately identifying community devise consensual solutions. Often they did not probe deeply enough problems and needs has been a major they use film, radio skits and partici- to identify the former combat- preoccupation in post-war Liberia. patory theatre performances to train ants’ varied problems and develop Beginning in Nimba County in 2008 residents in problem-solving tech- programmes tailored to their specific and then extending to the rest of niques. In one village, for example, needs. It would have been more the country over the next two years, tensions between rival youth associa- productive, he says, to first listen to teams of researchers from eight civil tions impeded economic activity. But them carefully. “Some of them just society groups canvassed public after two years of training, the youths want to be heard. So let them talk.” perceptions of the most contentious

August 2012 13 problems in more than 270 urban Women and the ‘hard core’ is: “The men deal with public issues, the and rural communities. Gender violence was another preva- women deal with everything else.” lent complaint across Liberia, the civil As part of the UN-supported Platform society activists found, along with It is important for civil society to for Dialogue and Peace in Liberia perceptions that women’s concerns mobilize to help capable women become project, the groups uncovered a wide and grievances are simply not being more involved in political affairs, Ms. range of grievances, relating to land treated seriously. This is despite the Matovu insists, so that they can engage and property disputes, corruption fact that Liberia is led by Africa’s not only with social issues, but also and abuses by local authorities, weak- first elected female head of state, with economic matters, security reform nesses in the judicial system, jobless- President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The and so on. In countries where women ness, gender violence, and competing dialogue project itself has sought to have succeeded in debating such issues, ethnic, religious and citizenship help redress this shortcoming, with she adds, “more and more you see that claims. Conflicts over land were the women constituting 41 per cent of the attitude is slowly changing.” most common issue. Although the nearly 10,000 Liberians involved in researchers initially set out only to map the consultations. Citizen engagement communities’ perceptions — leaving While working with local possible remedies for later — they The limited progress achieved by communities, activists have also sometimes were drawn into sponta- women around Africa does not surprise been very involved in the national neous efforts to mediate land disputes. Norah Matovu, a gender and human political arena, among other things rights activist from Uganda who also by informing citizens of their rights, A young man shares his experience during took part in OSAA’s Nairobi meeting. exposing corruption, supporting a community gathering on gender at the Despite official recognition of the need democratic reforms, assisting in voter to involve women in peacebuilding, registration and monitoring elections. Women's Peace Hut in Bong County, Liberia: many African leaders still have an Across Liberia, women are demanding more attitude that women do not belong in In Kenya, the political crisis that attention to their grievances, including such “hard-core business,” she told erupted in the wake of the disputed widespread sexual violence. Africa Renewal. These leaders’ outlook election of December 2007 proved to be UN / UNMIL / Staton Winter a catalyst of public engagement. Rachel Gichenga explains that she and a few friends watched with alarm as violence swept the country, taking hundreds of lives and displacing tens of thousands of people. They formed Kuweni Serious, which, along with other groups, used social media and other means to urge young people to vote in the 2010 referendum on a new constitution that expanded democratic rights and strengthened the electoral system.

While civil groups have long been active in Kenya, the electoral crisis opened the way for a “new wave” of organization and mobilization, Ms. Gichenga recalls. “I feel that civil society has kind of come into its own. People have really seen the power of everyone as a change-maker.”

Njoki Ndung’u, who was a member of the committee of experts that drafted the new constitution and now sits on Kenya’s Supreme Court, adds that people must remain alert and politically active. “We have a beautiful constitu- tion” and “the judiciary now has teeth,” 14 August 2012 she says, but more is needed to avert of research at the Kofi Annan doesn’t know what they’re going to a relapse into conflict. “Young people International Peacekeeping Training have that day, that reconciliation will have to make demands.” Centre in Ghana. In Liberia, he have a little problem.” reports, representatives of 11 civil Checking the military society groups have formed a working Kwaku Asante-Darko, a senior expert In some countries, the scope for civil group on security sector reform. on conflict prevention at the African society influence is more limited. This One of the group’s central activities Union, also believes that economic is the case in Guinea-Bissau, where has been to help train elected revival, especially job creation, is military interventions in political legislators to better perform their especially important for preserving affairs have been frequent, notes duties on parliamentary committees peace in countries emerging from Mamadu Quetta, vice-president of responsible for overseeing reforms of war. “When people are engaged in the Civil Society Movement for Peace, the military and police. purposeful life,” he told Africa Renewal, Democracy and Development. “We find “when people are earning their own ourselves in a vulnerable situation at all Mr. Jaye worries that not enough is living and have hope for the future, levels,” he says. being done in Liberia to create jobs then any appeal for violence will not for ex-combatants and other young have much attraction.” To create But even in countries where the people. Political reconciliation is such circumstances, he agrees that military has withdrawn from direct vital, he says, but so is “closing the the African Union and other official political life, as in Liberia, civil inequality gap” in Liberia. “You can institutions must find ways to better society needs to remain alert, notes preach your reconciliation, but if a harness civil society abilities and Mr. Jaye, who is currently director person wakes up every morning and energies.

For early warning, many eyes and ears o help prevent conflicts from erupting into large-scale particular concern for “human security,” on top of the T violence, political officeholders, police commanders regional governments’ more traditional interest in state and community leaders all need timely information about security. So in addition to tracking incidents of armed developing crises. Traditionally, such information has been insurgency, drug smuggling and cross-border crime, gathered and disseminated by state security agencies. But ECOWARN pays attention to trafficking in people, natural African governments are realizing that their capacities are disasters, community conflicts and the plight of refugees limited, and that civil society groups, with so many more eyes and displaced people. and ears on the ground, can also help warn of building tensions. ECOWARN’s situation report for the week of 4–10 June, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is for instance, tallies 29 separate incidents in eight different the first regional grouping of African governments to establish countries. Their seriousness is ranked as low, medium or an official early warning mechanism in direct collaboration high, depending on the number of people affected and the with a civil society organization, the West Africa Network for ability of the government to respond effectively. That week, Peacebuilding (WANEP). The result is the ECOWAS Warning the incidents included the killing of seven UN peacekeepers and Response Network (ECOWARN), headquartered in Abuja, in Côte d’Ivoire by suspected Liberian militias, fighting Nigeria, with four additional hubs in Benin, Burkina Faso, between rival rebel groups in northern Mali and a number of Gambia and Liberia. “The system itself is very new, with a lot of deadly confrontations in Nigeria. room for improvement,” acknowledges Chukwuemeka Eze, a programme director for WANEP. In addition to backing ECOWAS’s wider conflict-prevention activities, WANEP is active through its own national affiliates. ECOWARN collects and analyzes data and quickly provides it to On 14 June, Justin Bayor, the national coordinator of WANEP in the ECOWAS Commission for rapid responses, when necessary. Ghana, drew attention to a recent alarming increase in violent The information comes from government entities, civil society community disputes in that country, worsened by inflows of field monitors and open public sources (often Web-based). So small arms and the presence of ex-combatants from elsewhere far, its timely data has helped ECOWAS mediators and other in the region. “If we do not take care,” he said, “we will very forces to deploy with varying degrees of success in Liberia, soon have a heavily armed civilian population.” With a general Guinea-Bissau, Togo and Guinea. election coming up in December, he added that “we have to work to let it pass peacefully.” WANEP, with a network of civil society affiliates throughout West Africa, brings into the work of ECOWARN its own — Ernest Harsch

August 2012 15 African economies capture world attention

Skyline of Luanda, Angola: Will Africa be “the next global economic frontier”?

Reuters / Mike Hutchings

Undoubtedly Africa is still bedevilled by poverty, with half of its people living on less than $2 a day. However, its economic growth over the past decade has been striking.

A hopeful continent “There is a new story emerging out of Africa: a story of growth, progress, potential and profitability,” reports Ernst & Young, a US-based business consulting company. Johnnie Carson, the US secretary of state for African affairs, adds: “Africa represents the next global economic frontier.” Investors had better be aware, advises Mr. Carson, who recently led a US trade delegation to Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria. China’s trade with Africa reached $160 billion in 2011, making the continent one of its largest trading partners. But huge 20,000 square metres of retail space, a theatre, restaurants, bars and Ten years earlier, in 2000, The challenges parking for 900 cars. Welcome to the Economist saw no reason for hope. It Accra Mall in Ghana, one of West pronounced Africa “the hopeless conti- still lie ahead Africa’s best — and comparable to nent,” noting problems that included a any mall in the world. bloody civil war in Sierra Leone, famine in Ethiopia and political conflict in By Kingsley Ighobor In Ghana, as in many other African Zimbabwe. But last December, the countries, young people are living London magazine reconsidered: “Since out the continent’s economic growth. The Economist regrettably labelled oung men and women They are educated and relatively Africa ‘the hopeless continent’ a decade chat along the glittering well-off, as seen in their cars, dress ago, a profound change has taken hold.” Y corridors of the sprawling and homes. Ghana’s economy grew by Today “the sun shines bright … the shopping complex. With state-of- an impressive 14.4 per cent in 2011, continent’s impressive growth looks the-art mobile communication while many African economies are likely to continue.” gadgets in hand, they go in and expected to be among the world’s out of the mall’s 65 shops, filling fastest-growing in 2012, according Promising indicators shopping bags with expensive items. to the World Bank. Ghana, Liberia, Africa’s overall economic indicators There is a large and well-equipped Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic have been remarkable. Over the past children’s playground at the back. Republic of the Congo and others decade, Africa’s trade with the rest of Fully air-conditioned, the mall has will lead the charge. the world has increased by more than 16 August 2012 200 per cent, annual inflation has (ECA) in 2005 linked democracy to have wider economic repercussions. averaged only 8 per cent and foreign economic growth. “Good governance “Mali was scoring very well, now we are debt has decreased by 25 per cent. is central to improving economic back to square one,” says Mthuli Ncube, Foreign direct investment (FDI) grew performance and promoting the AfDB’s chief economist. Ethiopia, by 27 per cent in 2011 alone. economic progress in Africa,” argued Kenya, Uganda and other countries are Abdoulie Janneh, the ECA executive militarily engaged in Somalia, which Even though projections for overall secretary at the time. may slow their economies. And Nigeria growth in 2012 have been revised is grappling with Boko Haram, a terrorist downward due to the political crisis Another important factor is sect in the north of that country. in North Africa, Africa’s economy will accelerating urbanization. While still grow by 4.2 per cent, according it may strain social services in the Africa also faces other headwinds. The to a UN report in June. Sub-Saharan cities, it has also led to an increase in 2011 Africa Economic Report of the ECA African economies will grow at more urban consumers. More than 40 per and African Union warned of Africa’s than 5 per cent, notes the International cent of Africa’s population now lives “jobless recovery,” noting that inves- Monetary Fund (IMF). In addition, in cities, and by 2030 “Africa’s top 18 tors are concentrating on the extrac- there are currently more than 600 cities will have a combined spending tive sector, particularly oil, gold and million mobile-phone users on the power of $1.3 trillion,” McKinsey diamonds, which produces few jobs. continent, while increasing literacy and projects. The Wall Street Journal improving skills have resulted in a 3 per reports that Africa’s middle class, Another report, the African Economic cent growth in productivity. currently numbering 60 million, will Outlook 2012 (produced by the AfDB, reach 100 million by 2015. ECA, Organization for Economic Most foreign investors are still Cooperation and Development and UN cautious about Africa, particularly Still a long way to go Development Programme) reinforces because of security and infrastruc- Africa’s current economic indica- concern about unemployment, adding ture problems. But there is a steady tors may appear upbeat, but analysts that about 60 per cent of Africa’s increase in intra-African investment, say it is not yet time to celebrate. unemployed are aged 15 to 24 and about which in 2011 accounted for about “I’ll be cautioning against excessive half are women. In May, UNDP raised 17 per cent of total FDI, according to exuberance,” says Donald Kaberuka, an alarm over food insecurity in sub- Ernst & Young. African entrepreneurs president of the Africa Development Saharan Africa, a quarter of whose 856 are reaping the benefits. The world’s Bank (AfDB). “A sustained slowdown million people are undernourished. richest black person used to be the US in advanced countries will dampen talk show icon Oprah Winfrey, worth demand for Africa’s exports,” adds Talk of a rising African middle class $3 billion. Today, Aliko Dangote Christine Lagarde, managing director is hasty, the AfDB argues. Defined of Nigeria, referred to by Forbes of the IMF. Europe accounts for more loosely as those who live on $2 or magazine as a “commodities titan,” than half of Africa’s external trade, more a day, most “middle-class” has amassed more than $10 billion. and tourism could also suffer as fewer Africans have daily expenditures Europeans come to Africa, denting of no more than $4, notes the bank. Investor’s dreamland economies — like those in Kenya, Potential economic shocks could Several factors make Africa an Tanzania and Egypt — that rely heavily easily throw many families into investor’s dreamland. McKinsey on tourism. poverty, below the $2 threshold. High Global Institute, a think tank, income inequality also clouds the writes, “The rate of return on foreign The South African central bank also picture. In 2008, for example, just investment is higher in Africa than in warned in May that the crisis in 100,000 of Africa’s 1 billion people any other developing region.” Europe, which consumes 25 per had a total net worth of $800 billion, cent of South Africa’s exports, poses equivalent to 60 per cent of the Africa’s economic growth is driven by huge risks. And adverse effects on continent’s gross domestic product. a number of factors, including an end Africa’s largest economy will have to many armed conflicts, abundant devastating consequences for Despite such hurdles, Africa’s econo- natural resources and economic neighbouring economies. mies do not seem set to slow down. reforms that have promoted a better Ernst & Young insists that this “story business climate. Another flashpoint is the resurgence of has to be told more confidently and political crises. Due to the Arab Spring, consistently.” But equally important is More political stability is lubricating economic growth in North Africa nose- the need to ensure that the continent’s the continent’s economic engine. The dived to just 0.5 per cent in 2011. Recent economic growth also creates jobs and UN Economic Commission for Africa coups in Mali and Guinea-Bissau could helps rescue millions from poverty. August 2012 17 Beyond mining taxes, to development Contracts must benefit communities and promote economic linkages

By Efam Dovi Accra

buasi, about 200 kilometres northwest of Accra, Ghana’s O capital, is home to one of the world’s richest gold mines. For more than a hundred years the precious metal mined there has been taken to jewellers in the West and beyond, earning millions of dollars for mining companies and their shareholders.

But for inhabitants of villages around this rich mine — the tenth-largest in the world at the end of the 20th century — years of extracting what lies beneath the rocks have brought only hardship. Cyanide-polluted Small-scale gold miners in Obuasi, Ghana: streams and farmland contaminated traded commodities on the London Across Africa, communities in mining by toxic water are just two of the Metal Exchange — aluminum, harmful outcomes. As in many copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc. regions are demanding better deals from mining communities in Africa, Other valuable minerals coming out the big companies. infrastructure is very limited. of Africa include chromium, cobalt, Panos / George Osodi diamonds, gold, iron, manganese, “Obuasi is the ultimate example of phosphate, platinum, rutile, uranium corporations receive low wages, while how mining is developed in Africa,” and vanadium. they and their communities pay a says Yao Graham of the Third World hefty price in environmental pollu- Network, a civil society group. “The The unprecedented industrial tion and social disruption, breeding resources are taken out and very expansion of China, Brazil and feelings of resentment. little is left for the community or India depends in part on Africa’s the country where the mineral is vast natural resources. Experts “This sentiment has become produced,” he told Africa Renewal. contend, however, that African particularly pronounced since the economies are net losers in this early years of the current mineral The paradox global trade. Through taxes, they commodity price boom, which has African nations possess an enviable earn only a fraction of the profits substantially lifted profits for mining share of the world’s reserves of from the decades-long mineral boom. companies,” observes a new report, minerals. These include the six most The workers employed by mining Minerals and Africa’s Development, 18 August 2012 launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, meeting. It calls on governments to best legal and technical experts in last December at the second African improve their policies, strengthen the world. The result has been more Union Conference of Ministers mining institutions and legal and income for the government and better Responsible for Mineral Resources regulatory structures, and invest in deals for affected communities. Development. human skills and data collection to more effectively manage the sector. In 2010 the African Development Bank In 2010, net profits for the top 40 (AfDB) established a legal advisory mining companies grew by 156 per Poor mining management and regula- body to back governments in long- cent over the previous years. However, tion have fuelled criticism of mining term contract negotiations. Aside Africa’s “own share of windfall companies and governments, and in from supporting legal fees and recom- earnings has been minuscule,” laments some cases hostility. In February 2012, mending world-class law firms with Stephen Karingi, a director at the UN angry villagers from a string of settle- special skills, the AfDB also insists that Economic Commission for Africa. ments marched across a platinum-rich local lawyers be involved in the process. corner of South Africa to demand a “It is very crucial,” the AfDB’s Coumba Meanwhile, across Africa, mining better deal from Xstrata, a multina- Doucoure Ngalani told Africa Renewal. communities are experiencing the tional mining company. “We are not only supporting countries negative effects: few schools and to get the best deal out of the contract; roads, health problems associated The AMV acknowledges the we also build local legal capacity.” with poisonous chemicals and unsafe importance of mineral rents and drinking water, forced relocation taxes. But it also calls for govern- Community dialogue and the disruption of livelihoods. In ments to link mining to the devel- Ms. Ngalani acknowledges that it is research on water quality in Ghanaian opment of energy, roads, railways, important for governments to engage mining communities around Obuasi agriculture and social infrastructure, in dialogue with local communities and Tarkwa, the Wassa Association of both in issuing new mineral contracts before signing mining contracts. “At Communities Affected by Mining, an and in renegotiating existing ones. the end of the day, if you explore, it is advocacy group, found in 2010 that 250 going to affect the community. You rivers had been poisoned by cyanide To avoid conflicts and address the touch on the environment, people are and heavy metals. Such communities adverse impacts of mining, the AMV displaced, and livelihoods are lost. If feel that their interests are never taken says that it is essential to have “a everything is included in the contract into account when their leaders sign transparent and inclusive mining at the start, the companies would contracts with mining companies. sector that is environmentally have to respect that,” she emphasizes. and socially responsible” and Shifting policy that “provides lasting benefits to According to the AMV, governments’ Participants at the Addis Ababa the community and pursues an ability to optimize the benefits of conference focused on ways to imple- integrated view of the rights of mining contracts is concentrated at ment the ambitious African Mining various stakeholders.” the outset. “It is difficult,” says the Vision (AMV) approved by African AMV, “to fundamentally renegotiate heads of state in 2009. The AMV is Contract contracts at a later stage without a policy guideline for ensuring the negotiation critical sending negative signals to investors.” optimal exploitation of Africa’s mineral With the current minerals boom, resources for economic transformation Africa is today being touted as the Mr. Graham says it is key to replace and poverty eradication. next global frontier. But the balance the old order with the new thinking of power will not automatically outlined in the AMV and Action Plan. Mineral-rich nations, the experts tilt to African governments at the “It needs political will and domestic concur, must make strategic policy negotiating table. Since mining mobilization.” decisions to maximize mining’s companies are often better financed contribution to development. This and more skilled than African Indeed, where mining has contrib- would require shifting from simply delegations, the AMV stresses the uted to better development outcomes, extracting minerals to a broader importance of improving African as in Botswana, South Africa and framework that integrates policies for governments’ negotiating capacities. Namibia, success can be linked to mining, industry, economic develop- sound management, good governance, ment and environmental protection. In Sierra Leone the UN Development adequate infrastructure and a favour- Programme provides a presidential able business environment. The Addis An action plan for achieving the task force on mining contract nego- Ababa conference could not empha- AMV was adopted at the Addis Ababa tiations with access to some of the size that enough.

August 2012 19 Tourism in Africa is slowly coming of age Innovation and better infrastructure can draw more visitors

By Kingsley Ighobor and Aissata Haidara

et-lagged, 500 delegates from around the world arrived in J Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in May to deliberate on the path to Africa’s tourism future. To unwind, Zimbabwe’s Tourism Authority, host of the congress of the Africa Travel Association (ATA), had organized a fun-filled welcome. The delegates toured Victoria Falls — one of the world’s seven natural wonders — where they participated in bungee jumping, gorge swinging and zip-lining over the Zambezi River. They then went on safari, encountering lions and elephants. Later they Visitors to a cultural festival in Benin: savoured local cuisine and danced century destination.” Taleb Rifai, secre- Many potential tourists are interested in enthusiastically to traditional music. tary-general of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), recently experiencing African cultures, not just The host’s intention was clear: see, feel stated that “Africa has been one of the going on wildlife safaris. and believe. Zimbabwe’s showcasing fastest-growing tourism regions of the Panos / George Osodi spoke louder than routine speeches. last decade.… With the right investment, It spurred tourism ministers from tourist arrivals will continue to grow, are 30 per cent in Cape Verde, 25 per cent Ghana, Namibia, Uganda and other investors will see excellent returns, jobs in Mauritius and 16 per cent in Gambia. African countries to become bullish will be created and the entire economy The World Bank reports that tourism about the continent’s potential. Said US will benefit.” The sector already employs accounts for 8.9 per cent of East Africa’s Ambassador Charles A. Ray, “Zimbabwe, about 7.7 million people in Africa. Mr. GDP, 7.2 per cent of North Africa’s, even with its political uncertainty, is a Rifai cited data showing steady increases 5.6 of West Africa’s and 3.9 per cent of potentially huge market.” in Africa’s tourist arrivals, from 37 Southern Africa’s. In Central Africa, million in 2003 to 58 million in 2009. tourism contributes just 1 per cent. Economic lifelines Tourism watchers are upbeat. In 2004, Tourism revenues are the lifeline of Small space on proponents of the New Partnership for many economies. About 50 per cent global stage Africa’s Development (NEPAD) approved of Seychelles’ gross domestic product Despite the chest-thumping, Africa’s an action plan to make Africa the “21st (GDP) comes from tourism. The rates share of global tourist arrivals is 20 August 2012 relatively small. There were 980 Africa Renewal. The McKinsey Global tourists from different parts of the world. million international tourist arrivals Institute, a think tank, maintains that More tourists mean more money spent in 2011, of which only 50 million tourists are attracted to countries on hotels, restaurants, tour guides and traveled to Africa. However, Africa with good infrastructure, safety and souvenirs, stimulating local economies. is still receiving more tourists than security, and sanitation. Janet Kiwia, the Caribbean, Central America and the managing director of World Jet Culture tourism requires aggres- South America combined, according Travel and Tours in Tanzania, adds sive promotion. Like food festivals in to UNWTO. that bad roads, poorly maintained Mexico and music and cultural festi- airports, power outages and other vals in Jamaica and Trinidad, African North Africa suffered a 12 per cent loss shortcomings keep tourists away. festivals can draw visitors. Film festi- in 2011 from the previous year due to vals in Zanzibar and Burkina Faso that region’s political unrest, denting There are concerns over the safety attract culture tourists. Africa needs the continent’s share of international of Africa’s aircraft and airspace. In to “develop flagship tourist attractions arrivals. But that loss was partially just two days in June, two planes and communicate brand effectively,” offset by a 7 per cent uptick in sub- crashed in Nigeria and Ghana, killing advises a McKinsey report. Saharan Africa, which gained 2 million more than 160 people. In 2009 the arrivals. Overall, the 2011 data shows World Bank found that 60 per cent Africa’s domestic tourism (by resident that Africa performed better than of runways in North Africa were in visitors) has been flagging. Not more the Middle East, which lost 5 million excellent condition, but only 17 per than half of Kenyan chief executives arrivals. Generally, the continent’s cent in sub-Saharan Africa were. In have seen an elephant, notes Victoria top earners are Egypt, South Africa, addition, many sub-Saharan airports Safari, a Kenyan tourism company. Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritius, are small and have trouble dealing “Africans should know Africa better according to UNWTO. with increasing arrivals. Most depend than the white person from outside,” on a single airline and some have no it adds, recommending cheaper trans- Tourists in Africa come mostly from connections to major carriers. portation rates and ease of travel to Europe and the US. France is the encourage African tourists. Currently it number one source, followed by the Innovative approaches costs about $1,500 to travel 1,800 miles UK and the US. French tourists like A report by New York University, the from Luanda, Angola, to Dar es Salaam, to go to Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritius, World Bank and the ATA calls on Tanzania, but only $1,100 to go from Senegal and Madagascar. Tourists industry operators to apply innovative London to Dar es Salaam, a distance of from the UK mostly go to Egypt, South approaches to managing the different 4,600 miles. Africa, Mauritius and Gambia, while types of African tourism, which it those from the US prefer South Africa, categorizes as “safari,” “nature” and Bright prospects Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia “culture.” The report recommends Some countries are moving in the and Zimbabwe. “going beyond traditional safari to right direction. Frommer’s, a US travel include new adventures” by tapping guide series, named Ethiopia one of Infrastructure problems tour operators’ creativity. the world’s top 12 destinations in 2007. The East African Community (EAC), a The 2010 World Cup in South Africa regional bloc, hopes to attract tourists Nature tourism, including gorilla attracted more than 300,000 foreign from other parts of the world — not tracking, presents opportunities. More visitors. Only recently, renowned just the West — to go to different parts than 700 mountain gorillas live in the international singer Youssou N’Dour of East Africa — not just Kenya and Virunga Mountains that span Uganda, became Senegal’s minister of culture Tanzania. The EAC strategy, devel- Rwanda and the Democratic Republic and tourism, which may help boost oped in 2006, includes using DVDs, of the Congo (DRC). Faced with polit- tourism in his country. brochures and other materials to ical instability, the DRC is trying to promote the region as a bloc. At interna- attract tourists by charging lower rates It may take some time before Africa tional tourism conferences, East Africa than Rwanda and Uganda. In 2011 the catches up with Europe, which now speaks with one voice. three countries raked in a total of $225 received 480 million tourists last million from gorilla tourism. Through year. But as international arrivals hit What draws tourists to a country, the website www.friendagorilla.org, the milestone of 1 billion worldwide region or continent? “I wanted to see tourists pay to track gorillas using in 2012, Africa should aim for a bigger something different from Europe and webcams. It is also possible to “friend” a slice of the pie. The right infrastruc- I decided to visit Kenya and Tanzania. gorilla on the social network Facebook. ture, safety and security, and effective It is a different feel I got, and I like Raising awareness of gorilla tourism communication of the continent’s that,” Sven Brun, from Norway, tells through social media may attract more attractions can be starting points.

August 2012 21 Harnessing African stock exchanges to promote growth

Traders on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Despite some 900 million plus fans who had turned Exchange: Most African exchanges are Facebook into a global giant wondered still small and dominated by just a few weaknesses, right publicly what was in it for them. For large companies. a while, it wasn’t just seasoned inves- Panos / Jacob Silberberg policies could tors eyeing the stock; even the public unleash their showed momentary interest. exchanges are capable of promoting power In the event, Facebook’s crowning economic growth. Suspicions over their achievement as a public company weaknesses are not without basis. The was an anticlimax — and even almost absence of laws regulating trading in By Masimba Tafirenyika turned into a disaster. Yet the flota- derivatives was largely blamed for the tion showed the twin power of stock 2007 global financial crisis. If such markets: an ability to raise capital for practices could happen on the world’s ays before Facebook became business expansion (a massive $16 biggest exchanges, critics ask, how can a public company on 18 May, billion for Facebook), along with a Africa’s fragile economies withstand D the hype behind the social potential to destabilize economies. the whims of markets? network giant went into overdrive. The media proclaimed it the biggest ever With African stock exchanges becoming Positive outlook stock market flotation by an Internet important sources of investment capital As European economies struggle with a company. Investors salivated over a for large corporations, Facebook’s expe- debt crisis and sluggish growth expected rare chance to make quick profits. The rience has revived debate on whether in the US and elsewhere, investors are 22 August 2012 eyeing Africa as the next frontier, thanks Exchange, one of the best performers, cent of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. to a surging economy and positive was up 18.3 per cent, with better-than- Trading in shares is less frequent, and growth estimates over the next few average medium-term returns expected when it happens, it is usually limited to years. Indeed, Africa “could be on the elsewhere in the region. a few firms. Many do not have access brink of an economic take-off, much like to reliable and up-to-date information China was 30 years ago, and India 20 There are 23 stock exchanges in Africa technology; in some, trading is done years ago,” says the World Bank. today, up from 18 a decade ago. The manually. Lack of liquidity is a major newest is the Rwanda Stock Exchange weakness, and in many cases, the This year, sub-Saharan Africa’s (with four listed companies), which general public does not have confidence economy is forecast to expand by officially opened its doors to the public in the integrity of stock exchanges. 5.9 per cent, ahead of North Africa’s about three years ago. Other countries, growth of 4.2 per cent, according to the including Gambia and Sierra Leone, are These problems, many of them deep- International Monetary Fund (IMF). showing interest in joining the club. seated, cannot be fixed overnight. They Seven African countries are expected require time and resources. Nor are to be among the 10 fastest-growing Not every country in Africa, however, they the only weak spots — institutional economies in the world for the period needs a stock exchange. “It is very flaws are equally harmful. 2011-2015. Perceptions of Africa expensive to run an exchange and not among investors “are becoming more commercially viable to have lots of “The destabilizing effects of intro- distinctly positive over the long-term exchanges all around the continent,” ducing stock markets into economies horizon,” says Ernst & Young, a global Nicky Newton-King, the first female with underdeveloped legal, regulatory business consultancy company, in its chief executive officer of South Africa’s and monetary systems can produce 2011 Africa Attractiveness Survey, with Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), economic instability that outweighs capital investments there set to reach told journalists last year. potential gains,” noted Michel Isimbabi $150 billion by 2015. in a research paper on African stock Markets are too small markets. Without these safeguards, Given Africa’s growth prospects, the There are many obstacles that inhibit critics charge, traders could use stock challenge for investors is to identify the the growth of stock markets in Africa. markets to gamble and speculate. best avenue for entering the market. Except for the JSE, the continent’s Stock exchanges hold some advantages biggest in terms of the number of listed Yet Isimbabi’s study, published in the over, say, private equity (see page 25) in companies and market value, African US-based Johns Hopkins University’s raising investment capital: Companies stock markets are still small and often SAIS Review, concluded that notwith- can raise large sums of money to expand dominated by a handful of large corpo- standing these criticisms, there is operations without getting expensive rations. For example, the conglomerate strong evidence that a stock market bank loans, listed firms are required Dangote Group makes up about 30 per can be an essential part of a developing to publish regular reports and stock exchanges give individuals a chance to invest directly in large corporations. Top five African stock exchanges by $ billion in market capitalization, 2010 The World Bank reckons that inves- tors looking for opportunities in Africa can expect “some of the highest 1,020 1,012 investment returns in the world.” 1,010 173 InvestingInAfrica.net, a website that 1,000 monitors African stock markets, 160 reports that as of May 2012, six stock 140 markets (Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, 120 South Africa, Uganda and Zambia) had 100 84 three-year returns of at least 27 per 80 69 67 cent in dollar terms. Zambia topped 60 the chart with a whopping 57 per cent, 40 thanks to a growing economy boosted 20 by rising commodity prices. Last year, Johannesbur g Namibia Egyp t Casablanca Botswana however, was a bad year for Africa’s 0 stock markets because of the global Source: UN Africa Renewal from African Securities Exchanges Association data. recession. Still, Zambia’s Lusaka Stock

August 2012 23 currencies — limit their attraction to investors.

The most recent attempt towards regional integration is last year’s part- nership agreement between FTSE, the British stock market index, and 16 of the 22 members of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) to launch the FTSE-ASEA Pan Africa Index in 2012. “The index will help to improve the visibility of African stocks and also provides an opportunity for investors to Stock markets are one way for African access African equities,” Siobhan Cleary, companies to raise cash for expansion. bombings by the Boko Haram group, is the JSE director of strategy and public Alamy / Jake Lyell gradually getting its act together, policy, said in response to questions from guided by reformist finance minister Africa Renewal. and former World Bank managing economy. A number of studies by the director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Early this year, the JSE unveiled a new IMF also arrived at the same conclusion: strategy designed to improve relations if supported by the right policies and In contrast, countries with high levels with several stock exchanges in Africa reforms, stock markets can help African of risk, such as weak investment laws through the ASEA and the Committee companies expand operations, in turn or lack of respect for property rights, of Southern African Development contributing to economic growth. have learned the hard way. Zimbabwe Community Stock Exchanges (CoSSE). comes to mind. Uncertainty over the The JSE has offered CoSSE members Increased investment flows direction of its economic policies has the use of its advanced trading system Luckily, environments favourable to the seen the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange — at less than market cost. Except for growth of stock exchanges are begin- once one of Africa’s biggest and most Namibia, there have been no takers, ning to take root in Africa. Political active — shrink in both size and value. “though discussions with other stability now exists in many countries exchanges are ongoing,” says Cleary. — despite recent setbacks in Mali and The small size of African stock Guinea-Bissau — even in post-conflict markets and the absence of liquidity Even with obvious rewards such as countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone are often cited by foreign investors as a bigger market size, low costs and and Côte d’Ivoire. In its latest survey, the major impediments to investing in more liquidity, the conditions for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, a group the region. Experts have recommended regional integration are yet to mature. that supports good governance in merging them into regional exchanges According to financial experts, Africa, says that “political stability in as one solution. “A regional exchange progress would require African coun- sub-Saharan Africa has dramatically should mean more liquidity — the life- tries to harmonize their trading laws improved in recent years.” blood of exchanges — by making stocks and accounting standards, set up available to a wider range of convertible currencies and establish Sound economic policies and account- investors,” argues The Economist, free trade among members. Also, able institutions too are a must. Along a British weekly magazine. nationalism still plays a part: coun- with political stability, the World Bank’s tries tend to treat stock markets as 2012 Global Economic Prospects report Regional integration national symbols and therefore are attributes increased investment flows is slow not rushing to relinquish control. to Africa to higher commodity prices But so far, there has been little and improved macroeconomic stability. progress on regional integration. True, stock exchanges are not the only Rwanda, for instance, is now one of Cooperation among exchanges is entry for investors to buy into African Africa’s fastest-growing economies, still limited to technical and regula- companies, nor are they so far fully up thanks to its pro-business policies and tory issues. The modest market value to the task. Yet with the right policies a positive investment climate. South and size of Africa’s two regional and incentives, African countries Africa — and to some extent Kenya — stock exchanges — one made up of can encourage the growth of their has a long history of investor-friendly five countries in Central Africa and stock exchanges to become important policies. And the continent’s sleeping the other representing eight in West vehicles for future Facebooks to raise giant, Nigeria, even in the face of current Africa, with both sharing common capital for business expansion. 24 August 2012 Private equity: new cash for expanding businesses Funds target capital-hungry companies in Africa

By Bill Hinchberger

frica is growing, and African companies need cash to A expand. Investors want in on the action, especially given low returns in many other parts of the world these days. But with few stocks and bonds, and scant liquidity for those out there, how do investors get a foothold? And how do African firms access much-needed cash?

Enter private equity — the purchase by a private investor of a share of a company that is not listed on a stock market. The company can take the money from the sale and use it for expansion or other investments. In exchange, the owner gives up some Train station in Mombasa, Kenya: In 2011, control, as the new partner gets a seat chip in US$50 million towards a fund an Egyptian company invested in the on the board or, in smaller companies, of the US-based Carlyle Group, which company operating the railway from plays an advisory role. Eventually plans to invest at least $500 million Mombasa to Uganda in the largest private investors make money by selling their in sub-Saharan Africa. In May, the shares or receiving dividends. Brazilian investment bank BTG equity deal in East Africa that year. Pactual launched a $1 billion Alamy / Tina Manley Opportunities galore Africa-focused private equity fund. In Africa, private equity is all the In the 15 months from January 2011 showing that nearly four-fifths rage. “If you look at all the opportuni- to March 2012, eight new funds planned to increase outlays in the ties,” says David Jeromin, managing focusing on East and Southern Africa next year. partner of the US-based Global Mean were launched. Capital, it is like the “nightmare” The overall numbers are impressive, of someone with attention deficit East Africa alone has 16 dedicated although a bit volatile. Private equity disorder. “There is just so much stuff.” funds, out of 53 active in that region. investment in sub-Saharan Africa Officials of nearly three dozen funds jumped from $741 million in 2003 Announcements of new African responded to a survey, released in to $1.3 billion last year, with ups and private equity funds come regularly. March by Deloitte, a global consul- downs in between, according to the In February the African Development tancy, and Africa Assets, a private Emerging Markets Private Equity Bank (AfDB) announced that it would research and consulting firm, Association.

August 2012 25 All sizes get their hands dirty,” Mr. Jeromin Zambia’s foremost producer of table Private equity placements come in complains. eggs, Golden Lay, to the African all sizes. The biggest in East Africa Agriculture Fund, a private fund last year was a $287 million deal by A rutted road managed by Phatisa, which invests Egypt’s Citadel Capital to invest in Even for larger investors, the path in sustainable food businesses across Rift Valley Railways, which operates to profitability can seem more like Africa. “This marks a very successful the railroad from Kenya’s Mombasa a rutted dirt road than like a freshly investment and exit for Aureos,” seaport to Uganda. The AfDB, whose paved expressway. “Private equity is says Ron den Besten, its managing private equity portfolio stands at not challenging in terms of finding partner. “Golden Lay has made $1.1 billion, regularly invests in investment opportunities,” says Larry great strides in the last five years. independent funds that make equity Seruma, chief investment officer and Production capacity has more than placements in Africa. These funds managing principal of Nile Capital doubled as a result of our strategy of have invested in 294 companies, of Management, based in the US state investment in new state-of-the-art which 54 topped $15 million and 163 of New Jersey. “It is like fishing in a laying houses, providing the impetus were under $1 million. barrel. The problem is with managing for exponential financial growth the business. Often there is not enough during our investment period.” Infrastructure, banking, mining, talent to take it to the next level. If you oil and gas, and other commodities are a minority shareholder, you might Few IPOs generally attract the heavy hitters. not find the right people to represent One popular exit strategy elsewhere, At the other end of the spectrum, you on the board, for example.” especially in the US, is the initial venture capital focuses on less public offering (IPO), in which an mature companies, which are On the talent front, Seruma, himself investor sells at least part of its stake generally small and often headed a native of Uganda, finds hope in when the company puts its shares by a charismatic entrepreneur. the return of people who were once up for sale on a stock market. But counted as drops in the brain drain. African stock markets tend to be thin One such company is Cheetah Palm “The African diaspora is huge,” he and illiquid (see article, page 22), and Oil, a start-up in Ghana founded by says. “Well educated people are going so IPOs have been relatively rare, the well-known economist George back. Employment in the developed although not unheard-of. Ayittey. Cheetah has backing from markets is not that good anymore, Global Mean Capital. Instead of and Africa is growing. Local talent is Mr. Jeromin reaches back into US buying land and growing crops, it moving back.” history for another strategy. “If you go will work with a producers’ coop- back to the 1800s, before there were erative to help market products Investors are also worried about liquid markets, investors got their internationally and to ensure that their “exit strategies,” a euphemism money through dividends. You can farmers get fair prices, microcredit for how they expect to realize returns set up a preferred-share structure,” and agricultural extension services. on their investments. After all, these in which certain shareholders receive The project has the potential to are profit-seeking capitalists, not privileged pay-outs. encompass 50,000 small growers philanthropists. with farms covering 75,000 hectares Private equity is not without its of land. Venture capitalists like Mr. Jeromin drawbacks. Company owners and sometimes look to larger private entrepreneurs will not always be This is not your genteel, Silicon equity firms to buy their stakes as pleased by pressure they might get Valley–style venture capital. their protégés grow. Another option from their new partners. And “You have to rally resources is known as a “trade sale,” selling all investors may lose interest if their around the entrepreneur and build or part of a firm to a muscular multi- exit strategies prove elusive. infrastructure,” says Mr. Jeromin, national company looking to expand. whose firm is solidly in the venture Potential buyers could include major But private equity seems to be capital realm. “It takes a heck of players in neighbouring countries starting to fill a void that cannot be a lot of time.” seeking cross-border expansion to handled by banks alone. “For most take advantage of the liberalized companies in Africa, raising money Venture capital remains a small flow of goods and services within means going to the bank,” says David subset of all private equity opera- regional trade blocs. Levin, senior managing partner of tions in Africa, partly because it Nova Capital Global Markets in is so labour-intensive. “There are Recently the Aureos Southern Africa New York. “We bring in a different a lot of people who do not want to Fund sold its 49 per cent stake in level of financing.” 26 August 2012 Northern Mali’s ‘city of saints’ suffers rebel fury Destruction of Timbuktu mausoleums is “repugnant,” says UN

By Jocelyne Sambira

istory dating as far back as the 5th century is literally being H chipped away with pick axes and shovels at the hands of an extremist rebel faction in northern Mali. Holy Djinguereber mosque in Timbuktu, Mali: Muslim shrines in the ancient city of destruction. I call on all parties engaged Rebel forces have destroyed some of the Timbuktu have become targets of the in the conflict to stop these terrible mosque’s mausoleums, along with other Ansar Dine. For the Islamist faction, and irreversible acts, to exercise their holy shrines in the ancient northern city. the Sufi shrines are a form of idolatry. responsibility and protect this invaluable Redux / laif / Berthold Steinhilber cultural heritage for future generations.” But for many others in the overwhelm- ingly Muslim country, the mauso- Still in danger are the pyramidal struc- The destruction in the fabled city follows leums of Islamic saints are religiously tures of the Tomb of Askia, as well as a deepening crisis in the region since a significant, and regularly draw other religious and cultural artifacts, military coup in Mali’s capital in March crowds of people, including Muslims including 1,000-year-old Islamic (see page 9). Separatist Tuareg rebels took preparing for the Hajj, or pilgrimage, manuscripts. The manuscripts — a advantage of the instability to proclaim to Mecca. These ancient buildings and testimony to Africa’s written history — northern Mali an independent state. The monuments — some listed by the UN are specific to West Africa and unique Ansar Dine (“Protector of the Faith”) Educational, Scientific and Cultural in the Islamic world. then in turn ousted the Tuareg rebels Organization (UNESCO) as World and took control of Timbuktu. Heritage Sites — are also an integral The United Nations has now placed part of world history and the collec- Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia on its The UN Security Council has tive memory of the people of Mali. List of World Heritage in Danger. Ansar condemned the group’s destruction and Timbuktu was an intellectual and Dine’s threats to destroy more have threatened to impose sanctions against spiritual capital that played an brought Fadima Diallo, Mali’s minister it. The Economic Community of West essential part in the spread of Islam of culture, to tears. The African Union African States (ECOWAS) is seeking the across Africa’s Sahara and Sahel in called its actions “criminal.” The new council’s support for an armed interven- the 15th and 16th centuries. chief prosecutor of the International tion to regain control of northern Mali. Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda of A number of Timbuktu’s sacred Gambia, has warned that her office will For hundreds of years, Timbuktu has tombs are now gone, reduced to piles open an investigation into what she endured every major upheaval thrown of rubble. “Repugnant” is how Irina calls “war crimes,” under the Hague its way: foreign invasions, armed raids, Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, Convention of 1954 for the Protection an earthquake, famine. Africa and the has described the vandalism. “There of Cultural Property in the Event of world are hoping that it will survive the is no justification for such wanton Armed Conflict. current threat.

August 2012 27 Africa’s love affair with BlackBerry

Smartphone’s competing for the Kenyan secret to success youth market, writes James Ratemo, online sub-editor at is affordability the Nation Media Group. Even RIM stocks went down by t’s elegant, it’s hip and 70 per cent in late June, losing it’s one of the hottest to Apple and Google in North I phones on the African America and Europe. market. Nothing says “I am important” like a man But the secret to BlackBerry’s or woman whipping out a success in Africa is its BlackBerry smartphone. affordability. The BlackBerry It’s easily recognizable with Messenger application its wide screen and trade- software, which enables mark keypad. According to people to share voice and Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, text messages, pictures and editor at Ghananewslink.com, video clips, is free. Affordable “What is your BB pin?” has data plans, like those in South become the ultimate sizing- Africa, allow users to pay a Cheap applications and data plans have enabled BlackBerry to carve out up request. To be asked flat-rate of $7 per month for a niche in Africa. Africa Renewal / John Gillespie the question, he says, you Internet access. RIM of Africa have to be considered cool has also partnered with top enough to own one. mobile carriers like Vodafone, MTN and Airtel, sharing Taking the Internet to all Research In Motion (RIM), the profits instead of tying the homes in Mauritius Canadian company that owns device to one carrier, under- BlackBerry, has managed to scores Mr. Kunateh. And its carve itself a niche in Africa. signature feature — a secure, auritius is set to join a Communication Tassarajen In 2010, with the help of encrypted data system M growing list of African Chedumbrum Pillay announced Brightstar, a global services that makes it difficult for an countries with a fibre-optic the licensing of Bharat Telecom company that works with outsider to monitor commu- network, which guarantees high- to set up a 2,900-kilometre key players in the wireless nications — could help it win quality bandwidth and makes fibre network to cover the entire industry, it started distributing over local businesses. Internet services more accessible country. Work is advancing on its gadgets throughout sub- and affordable. The Mauritian the first phase of the project — Saharan Africa. Today South But nothing is set in stone. government wants every home called “Fibre to the Home” — and Africa boasts over 2.5 million The Chinese company and office linked to the network, is expected to cover 70 per cent active devices, according to Huawei is a strong competitor and Bharat Telecom, an Indian of the country. World Wide Worx, a South with its low-end smart- investor, is working to make the African technology research phones. Currently, its locally- dream come true for the country In May 2012 the company firm. Nigeria has 2 million manufactured Android of 1.3 million people. announced on its Facebook active devices. phone, which goes for the page that it had experienced equivalent of US$80, is a big Most Mauritians consider Internet delays with “aerial fibre optic A lot of phone companies are hit in rural Kenya. Google, tariffs to be exorbitant. Poor installations” in some parts of trying to tap into the African whose Android apps are the performance by service providers the country. But in June Bharat smartphone market, because latest craze in sub-Saharan has also angered citizens. In Telecom began testing its of flagging sales elsewhere. Africa, is also testing out November 2011, Minister of services to the satisfaction of Samsung and Nokia are the waters. Information Technology and many potential customers. w 28 August 2012 Appointments

The Secretary- General has Baljinder Sharma, Bharat for just Rs280 ($9.10.) Compare To break even, Bharat selected Telecoms’ executive director, that with Rs1,500 ($49) for the Telecoms is setting sight UN Photo / Mark Garten UN Photo Maged says about the broadband [current] package and it looks on 50,000 subscribers. Abdelaziz of Egypt as his new service: “The cheaper it is the like an 80 per cent saving.” Mauritius currently has about special adviser on Africa. Mr. more uptake there will be and 320,000 broadband users Abdelaziz has been Egypt’s therefore there will be more Other offerings, according to Mr. (25 per cent of the popula- permanent representative subscribers, which in turn will Sharma, include “most Indian tion), so the potential is great. to the United Nations since sustain lower bandwidth prices.” news channels and soaps, With literacy over 80 per cent, 2005, as part of a 33-year Hollywood, French programmes chances are that faster and diplomatic career. His Office When completed, subscribers and Bollywood.… We want to be cheaper Internet service will of the Special Adviser on will pay just $10 per month able to deliver e-commerce and attract many more. Africa (OSAA) is in charge and receive up to 40 televi- education through partners.” He of overseeing UN support for the New Partnership sion channels, including Fox notes that many people are eager Mauritius’ economy is currently for Africa’s Development and HBO from the US. More to use Internet protocol TV. growing at 3.6 per cent (NEPAD). affluent subscribers will pay annually, and with per capita $200 for premium content and Bharat Telecoms is not adding income of $7,420, the country The Secretary- faster bandwidth. Subscribers voice service to the overall is considered to be middle General has currently pay about $50 monthly package. “We don’t want to income. The UN Development selected for basic Internet services. get into a fight with the local big Programme’s human develop- Carlos boys,” explains Mr. Sharma, ment index ranks it second in / Mark Garten UN Photo Lopes of An excited Mauritian blogger although the company plans to Africa. Access to a faster and Guinea-Bissau as executive writes: “We will be able to get offer a telephone port so that more affordable Internet can secretary of the UN Economic 40 Internet protocol television subscribers can make calls only boost its development Commission for Africa (ECA). At the time of his appoint- channels and Internet access within the network if they wish to. efforts. ment, Mr. Lopes was executive director of the UN Institute for Training and Research and Google brings fun to when you are not connected to director of the United Nations the Internet,” Anat Amir, head System Staff College, following Africa through SMS of marketing at Google Africa, a long career with the UN wrote on the company’s blog. Development Programme “This means that you can post (UNDP). At the ECA, he t used to be that only people and India. The targeted African updates, receive notifications succeeds Abdoulie Janneh. I with smartphones able to countries are Algeria, Angola, and reply to them via SMS.” handle photos and videos could Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Amir touted Google+ as Peter get onto social media networks the Democratic Republic of the a platform people can use “to Launsky- Tieffenthal such as Facebook or Twitter and Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, easily manage who you share of Austria has

have all the fun. Now anyone Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, [information] with, ensuring your / Eskinder UN Photo Debebe been named in more than 40 countries with Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, boss won’t see your party pics the UN’s new under-secretary- the most basic mobile phone Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and your friends are not bored general for communications can join the party by simply Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. with you sharing work-related and public information. Mr. using text messaging or SMS, news articles.” To use the SMS Launsky-Tieffenthal brings to even when the phone is not To sweeten the deal, Google+ features, mobile owners will need the position 30 years of experi- connected to the Internet. users in East Africa will have the to go to the Google Mobile page ence with the Austrian Foreign added advantage of sending and activate their phones. Service, with responsibilities Recently the search engine SMS commands in KiSwahili, ranging from public diplomacy giant, Google, announced that an official language in Kenya, According to TechZim, a news and development coopera- tion to press and information. starting this year, its increasingly Tanzania and Uganda and also blog, Google considers Africa Since 2007 he has been head popular social network, Google+, spoken widely in several other an essential market and is of communication and infor- will now be available in 41 new countries in the region. deliberately pushing its services mation of the Austrian Federal countries, including 22 in Africa. through several developer Ministry for European and Until recently, Google+ through “We wanted to ensure that and user events in a number of International Affairs. SMS was available only in the US Google+ is also available at times countries there.

August 2012 29 Green economy up to individual countries to set their own policies on how to achieve this. from page 5 But beyond this general consensus, Mohammed Nour of Sudan’s Ministry the summit did not produce a clear of Environment, Forests and Physical understanding of what the term “green Development. The promise of the green economy” means. Many in Africa and in economy, he said, “can only be achieved civil society groups remain suspicious if there are sufficient resources available that it is simply business as usual or may for that purpose. If we do not deploy represent new ways to restrict trade and sufficient effort we will never reach development. sustainable development goals.” “The green economy is a black box right President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya agreed, now,” said Davinder Lamba, director arguing that an international sustainable of the Mazingira Institute, a non- development financing strategy would governmental organization (NGO) in “facilitate the mobilization of financial Nairobi, Kenya. “We don’t know what and other resources to assist developing will make it tick.” More “transparency countries to make the transition to the and agency” will be required to overcome green economy more effectively.” the reluctance and opposition to creating green economies, Mr. Lamba added. After developed countries failed to By “agency,” he means that those at the South African electricity company urges agree to new funds — only to future bottom, the poor and poorest countries, talks on financing — AfDB President must have a role in shaping what green use of energy-saving lightbulbs. Kaberuka expressed disappointment. economies are and how they will work. Alamy / Stuwdamdorp The Rio summit, he said, did not produce any concrete timetables or establish The Indigenous Peoples of Africa Rio would produce concrete solutions any mechanism to monitor and verify Coordinating Committee (IPACC), an on sustainable development. In the East progress towards greening economies. NGO network of more than 155 orga- African region our priority is safeguarding “We are still very much in an aspira- nizations in 22 African countries, said nature, on which our economies depend,” tional, transitional phase.” it was encouraged by the commitment said Jesca Eriyo, deputy secretary-general in “The Future We Want” document to of the secretariat of the East African Some African ministers pointed to improving the livelihoods of the poor and Community, a regional intergovern- the North’s unsustainable patterns of to valuing their needs and concerns. mental group of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, production and consumption. “Countries Rwanda and Tanzania. “We expected must acquit themselves of their obliga- According to Nigel Crawhall, director of solutions that will help our women and our tions and consume in a responsible the IPACC Secretariat, many destruc- economies to grow because most of our manner,” said Raymond Tshibanda, tive projects have been justified on the people are poor and our economies still foreign minister of the Democratic basis that they increased economic performing below expectation,” said Eriyo. Republic of the Congo, referring to the growth, while ignoring their impacts on fact that industrialized countries’ carbon local communities and their land. Such However, she added, it is not clear what emissions and water and resource use projects now need to be “reassessed, a green economy would mean for those have a far higher impact on the planet adjusted or just cancelled, as they create active in nature-dependant sectors like than those of African nations. poverty rather than alleviate it,” he said. agriculture, fisheries and tourism. If it “The main issue which IPACC is raising brings innovation and industrialization, ‘A black box’ is the need for checks and balances in resulting in jobs in new industries, it Leaders at the Rio summit agreed that infrastructure and extractive industries could be an opportunity, she conceded. the green economy “should contribute to ‘development,’ which are alienating land eradicating poverty as well as sustained from indigenous peoples, destroying Charles Mbella Moki, the mayor of Buea, economic growth, enhancing social biodiversity and making people poorer or a town in southwestern Cameroon, inclusion, improving human welfare and pushing them into urban slums.” thought it would take time for the signifi- creating opportunities for employment cance of the Rio summit to become clear. and decent work for all, while maintaining Some came to Rio looking for practical “It is yet to be seen in the years ahead the healthy functioning of the earth’s steps that could boost economic develop- if this get-together will have a positive ecosystems.” They also agreed that it was ment and job creation. “We were hoping impact on humanity.” 30 August 2012 Africa Book review War and Conflict in Africa Books by Paul D. Williams (Polity Press, Cambridge, UK, 2011; 320 pp; $24.95)

Winner Take All: China’s Race for ven as more of Africa’s wars wind Resources and What It Means for the E down, the question of why so many World by Dambisa Moyo (Basic Books, broke out on the continent still yields few New York, NY, USA, 2012; 272 pp; pb $26.99) clear answers. Yet a better understanding Sudan, South Sudan, and Darfur: of what triggered those wars may help What Everyone Needs to Know by Andrew S. Natsios (Oxford University Press, preserve fragile peace agreements, New York, NY, USA, 2012; 280 pp; pb $16.95) resolve the wars that still fester — and Conflits identitaires en Afrique even prevent new outbreaks of mass francophone by Pape Marc Adoux bloodshed. War and Conflict in Africa (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2011; 216 pp; pb €20.50, e-book €18.45) gives a comprehensive — if somewhat Rethinking Development in Africa dry and academic — overview of the by Munyaradzi Mawere (Langaa RPCIG, broad patterns of warfare in Africa, and Bamenda, Cameroon, 2011; 229 pp; highlights a few possible lessons for pb £18.95) The Trouble with the Congo: achieving peace. Local Violence and the Failure of Paul Williams avoids the pitfall of trying International Peacekeeping by Séverine Autesserre (Cambridge University Press, to identify a single, sweeping explana- Cambridge, UK, 2010; 311 pp; pb $28.99) tion. In a detailed study of scores of violence, they were unable to contain the Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: wars and other violent conflicts in more violent counter-reactions that resulted. The Collapse of the Congo and the than two dozen countries from 1990 Great War of Africa by Jason Stearns International — and increasingly African (PublicAffairs, New York, NY, USA, 2012; to 2009, he finds that the reasons for — peacemakers and peacekeepers 416 pp; pb $16.99) war in Africa have been as complex as have succeeded in patching together Afrique au fil de la démocratisation du anywhere else in the world. The most développement et de la mondialisation a number of tenuous peace accords, common “big ideas” — that African by Yao Assogba (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, Williams acknowledges. But all too often 2012; 206 pp; pb €19, e-book €15) wars are a heritage of colonialism, are those efforts have paid scant attention The Last Hunger Season: A Year in an instigated solely by elites, are driven to the local causes of conflict and have African Farm Community on the Brink by ethnicity or are caused by greedy relied too heavily on cobbling together of Change by Roger Thurow (PublicAffairs, criminals — do not hold up on inspec- New York, NY, USA, 2012; 304 pp; pb $26.99) elite power-sharing arrangements. tion, Williams argues. Those elements The Journey to Tahrir: Revolution, “The top-down peacemaking of elite Protest and Social Change in Egypt, may well be present, he admits, but by bargains will not offer any quick fixes eds. Jeannie Sowers and Chris Toensig themselves explain little, since they are to Africa’s wars,” he warns. Instead, deep- (Verso Books, London, UK, 2012; 310 pp; also at play in most African countries that pb $29.95, £19.95) going reforms are needed, especially have not had wars. Williams does detect L’Egypte en marche, eds. Christian Lochon of Africa’s security forces, and far more a common thread in countries where war and Jean-Jacques Luthi (L’Harmattan, Paris, resources must be provided both for France, 2012; 232 pp; pb €22.30, PDF €18) broke out: they had weak states that were peace efforts and for post-war Race Troubles: Race, Identity and dominated by personalized networks development programmes. Inequality in Post-Apartheid South of political patronage, and when those Africa by Kevin Durrheim (Lexington Books, states responded to new challenges with ­— Ernest Harsch MD, US, 2011; 248 pp; hb $70) Comment l’Afrique en est arrivée là by Axelle Kabou (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2011; 426 pp; pb €35) La place et le rôle des femmes dans la Indépendances africaines: chroniques Effectiveness of Aid for Trade in société congolaise: 1960-2010 by Jeanne d’une relation, ed. Olivier Barlet Small and Vulnerable Economies: Dambendzet, Scholastique Dianzinga and (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2011; 248 pp; An Empirical Assessment by Dirk Willem Elise Thérèse Gamassa (L’Harmattan, pb €22, e-book €16.50) te Velde, Massimiliano Calì and Mohammad Paris, France, 2011; Vol. 1: 236 pp; pb €24; Chroniques afro-sarcastiques. 50 ans A. Razzaque (Commonwealth Secretariat, Vol 2: 276 pp; pb €27) d’indépendance, tu parles! by Venance London, UK, 2011; 90 pp; pb £15.00, e-book Sud-Soudan, conquérir l’indépendance, Konan (Favre, Lausanne, France, 2011; 152 £12.00) négocier l’Etat by David Ambrosetti pp; pb €18) Madagascar dans une crise (Karthala, Paris, France, 2011; 232 pp; pb €19) Côte d’Ivoire : La réinvention de soi interminable by Toavina Ralambomahay Au Cameroun de Paul Biya by Fanny dans la violence, ed. Francis Akindès (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2011; 138 pp; Pigeaud (Karthala, Paris, France, 2001; 276 (Codesria, Dakar, Senegal, 2011; 272 pp; pb €13.50) pp; pb €24) pb £24.95)

August 2012 31 Introducing

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