Bamako Forum charts path for Africa's economic emergence

The 16th edition of Bamako Forum, held between Feb. 18 to 20 under the theme "Africa, between Chaos and Emergence," proposed several ways Africa can emerge economically.

The experts, decision makers, business leaders as well as media practitioners at the forum reflected on Africa's emergence by the year 2035, despite challenges facing the continent such as terrorism, lack of jobs for youths and illegal migration.

"Africa is a paradoxical continent," said Abdullah Coulibaly, the president of Bamako Forum. "Some view Africa as a continent without a future, plagued by wars, drug trafficking, famine, poverty and corruption. Others consider it as the continent of the future with its massive natural resources and economic growth," he said.

However, most participants generally agreed that "theft of Africa's natural wealth" was one of the key reasons for the continent's under-development.

"In most African countries, the biggest part of investment funds goes to road construction. In most cases, about 34 million U.S. dollars can be allocated to the construction of a few kilometers of roads which cannot last for more than five years," lamented Reckya Madougou, Benin's ex-justice minister.

"The long term plans that we come up with for our countries mostly come from different economic adjustment programs and economic reforms that we undertake without considering our realities," Madam Madougou continued.

"It is Africans themselves who delay Africa's development," she said, adding that African leaders give priority to sectors where they can easily steal public funds.

Mali's Prime Minister Modibo Keita noted that "Africa's emergence will only be achieved if the continent can fight against insecurity, impunity and illegality." It's the lack of the rule of law that leads to instability, he said.

African leaders should improve governance methods by making courageous choices, Keita proposed further.

Considered by experts as Africa's sixth region, the diaspora population was also urged to get more involved in developing strategies for Africa's economic emergence.

"Each year, the diaspora gives Africa about 40 billion U.S. dollars," said Lievin Feliho, the president of Humanist Engagement and Reflection Circle for the Future of Africa.

He said this financial contribution should be harnessed for the development of the local economies.

Africa's development, other speakers said, will be achieved through adoption of new technologies. According to them, new technologies can spur Africa's economic and social development.

According to the organizers, the objective of the Bamako Forum was "to come up with ways to finally get Africa out of chaos and place the continent back on the path of economic emergence." Endit