Experts upbeat about Africa's "renaissance" in 2018

by Lyu Tianran, Frank Kanyesiyge and Mohammed M. Mupenda

KIGALI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the new year nears, Rwandan experts expressed optimism about Africa's prospects in 2018 despite the many challenges the continent will face.

"African renaissance would start," political analyst Ladislas Ngendahimana told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He said Africans will become more aware of their own problems, which will guide them to find home-grown solutions.

Gatete Ruhumuriza, senior researcher of Institute of Policy Analysis and Research of Rwanda, a Rwandan think tank, said the changing international political situation will give Africa more opportunities to take part in the world affairs.

According to Ruhumuriza, the African Union is seeking to become self-funding, but this can not be achieved without political will of the member countries.

African countries generally import more than they export, which contributed to their dependence on international aid to finance their projects and imports, said Teddy Kaberuka, economic analyst and researcher.

Kaberuka lamented that the majority of these countries have natural resources, which were however exported as raw materials instead of finished products.

Africa will also face a lack of investment in industry due to political instability, insecurity and bad governance, according to Kaberuka.

The world has to cooperate with Africa to deal with important issues such as global warming, terrorism and immigration, said Ruhumuriza.

The researcher also said peace and stability in Africa will be a sustainable solution to terrorism and immigration, adding that Western countries need to stop creating and funding wars on the continent.

Major countries should focus on jobs creation, trade, investment and digital penetration in their cooperation with Africa, according to Ngendahimana. Enditem