Africa - The Underestimated Continent

Published on 3rd February 2014

Africa is playing a key role in shaping the future. Fifty years ago, the world watched Africa with fascination as seventeen countries declared their independence in 1960. It was the beginning of the end of European colonization. It was the beginning of the self-determination and awakening of an entire continent. Given that I was born in 1961, I can tell you this is of course not a long time ago.

Today, again we watch Africa very fascinated: among the ten fastest-growing economies during the last years there are at least more than six African countries. It is a chance to dispel an image of Africa that is burdened with prejudices. This image of Africa is, at best, a distorted picture. Africa is much more than poverty, crises and disasters. Many African economies are growing nearly as quickly as their Asian counterparts. Africa is on the rise politically and economically.

The world should view Africa differently than it ever has before. To make it clear: I don’t want to play down Africa’s problems – there is certainly a lot of catching up to do. There are still many conflicts and problems to be solved. But when I look at Africa, above all I see major opportunities and incredible potential.

Africa is THE continent of chances of our today’s world. We need a fresh perspective on Africa. We need a perspective that acknowledges the efforts and successes of individual countries. A perspective that looks closely at which states violate human rights and which states protect them. A modern view of Africa sees countries that are addressing the challenges their continent is facing. Increasingly, African solutions are being found for African problems.

Talking about Africa is always talking about impressive figures. The number of internet acceses in Africa between the year 2000 and 2007 increased by 30 per cent per year. The number of mobile phones increased from 16 million in 2000 to 650 million in 2012. Up to the year 2050, our world will have 9.6 billion inhabitants. Among the 31 countries with the highest birth rate are 29 African countries. By 2050, the African population will reach 2.4 billion - more than twice as much as today. At the turn of the century there will even be 4.2 billion inhabitants - more than four times as much as today. The population of Africa is not only increasing, compared to Europe, it is much younger. This is why the work benches of today’s world are shifting.

What we are witnessing here is perhaps the most intriguing evidence for a changing world, in which the supposed certainties of yesterday are serially collected from reality. It is a world in which the global balance of power is shifting dramatically, in which the political and economic influence must be re-compiled. For Germany this means that it must cultivate old friendships even more intensively than today, and it must actively explore new partnerships.

This is the reason why I launched an Africa concept for the German government in 2011. I am deeply convinced that we need to open a new chapter in the relations with our neighboring continent. We need to take into account the growing importance of Africa and its increasing responsibility. Our goal should be to use the potential of our cooperation partners, for the benefit of people in Germany and Africa. This is why we need for example more economic exchange.

It is indispensable for the peaceful coexistence of peoples and nations. As a member of the Free Democratic Party, I believe that close economic ties, investment, trade and entrepreneurship are key. They create jobs, growth and prosperity here in Germany as well as in Africa. The growth in many African countries is impressive. A new middle class is gradually emerging and its growing purchasing power bolsters domestic demand.

The World bank for example predicts that revenues in the African agricultural-business could trip-le within the next 17 years to one trillion US-Dollars, as a result of an increasing international and domestic demand. But in order to reach these predictions, structural changes must take place in Africa. Agro-industrial forms of production need to be established with participation of small and middleclass busi nesses as well as multinationals companies. Local farmers must be acknowledged as business partners. Businesses must acquaint with new methods of marketing and its ability to secure food supplying.

An increasing number of international companies are already discovering Africa’s potential as an investment location. We should support these positive developments. We want Africa to rise and prosper. Peace and stability, economic development and cultural understanding for Africa should be goals of a wise foreign policy.

The rise of Africa not only demands more commitment in and for Africa, it also demands the European societies to ask themselves what conclusions they have to draw. The rise of emerging countries in Africa and other continents makes European cooperation even more important.

If we want our values and interests to be heard in the world of tomorrow, we need Europe. I advise us in Europe that we are dealing not only with each other, with our problems and our crisis. It‘s not about who is better or stronger in Europe. It‘s not about competition within European member states to balance and trade surpluses or deficits within the European Union.

The point is that the world is changing, that new centers of power are to ascend to the first division, which economic heavyweights are also becoming political heavyweights in the world. If we Europeans forget that we have a destiny and a cultural community, if we believe we can respond with re-nationalization to the challenges of the world, then we will be the losers of to -morrow.

Not only Europe has to change. The institutions of the world have to as well. Look at the security council of the United Nations. The whole African continent does not even have one permanent member, and with Nigeria and Chad only to non-permanent members. This is not the mirror of the today’s world. It is a mirror of history. If we ask Africa for more political responsibility on one hand, we need to give them more influence on the other hand. The African Union is one of the key partners of the European Union. We need to strengthen the cooperation if we are honest with our goal to find African solutions for African problems.

The key to a better future for the people of Africa is and remains the creation of open societies in which good governance, rule of law, democracy and human rights are secured. These are necessary conditions for investment, sustainable business, education and development. Not only Africa, the whole world is changing. It is now time to shape the world for a better future.

By Dr. Guido Westerwelle

Founder and Chair of the Westerwelle Foundation for international understanding as well as Former Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany.


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