Today’s Issues in Africa

1. Today’s Issues in Africa

2. Today’s Issues in Africa • European colonialism and it’s aftermath has left most of today’s independent African nations with economic, health, educational, and political problems. • Compounding these problems is Africa’s challenging geography.

3. Poor Economic Development • Africa’s history of colonization has had long-term effects on its economy. • Barriers to African economic development include illiteracy, foreign debt, and a lack of manufacturing industries.

5. Europeans Exploited Africa • European colonizers exploited Africa’s resources, people • European colonies were set up only to benefit Europe. • Land was mined, drilled; environment was ignored

6. Africa’s Economy • Most countries do little manufacturing • sell raw materials to industrialized countries • All this has limited Africa’s economic growth, political stability • In fact, most African countries are worse off today than in 1960 • average incomes have decreased

7. Poor Africa • African countries lack crucial infrastructure such as roads, airports, railroads, ports. • Many people have little access computers or high technology

8. Poor Africa • Newly independent countries borrowed money to build economies • total Africa debt of governments was $295 billion by 2002 • many Western leaders push to forgive Africa’s debts

9. One Commodity Countries • “One-commodity” countries rely on export of one or two commodities • commodity —agricultural or mining product that can be sold • value varies daily based on worldwide supply and demand • this makes “one-commodity” nations’ economies unstable • Economists want Africans to diversify — create variety in economies

10. Improving Education • Uneducated populace is a large barrier to economic development • Average schooling time for women up only 1.2 years in last 40 years • In Angola and Somalia, civil wars have destroyed school systems • But in Algeria, 94% get a formal education • 83% of Mauritians over 15 are literate

11. Reversing Brain Drain • Many of Africa’s best and brightest end up migrating to western nations. • Many urge them to return and help out their nations.

12. Health Care

13. Health Care in Africa • Epidemic diseases are killing Africa’s people in huge numbers. • African nations and countries around the world are using a variety of methods, including education, to eradicate disease.

14. Serious Diseases Plaguing Africa • Cholera —sometimes fatal infection • spread by poor sanitation, lack of clean water • Malaria —often-fatal infectious disease marked by chills, fever • carried by mosquitoes; resistant to drugs due to overuse • Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—caused by HIV virus • 70% of adult, 80% of child AIDS cases are in Africa • often paired with tuberculosis—infectious respiratory infection

15. Cholera

16. Clean Water Project

17. Malaria

18. Malaria Information

19. AIDS

20. Aids Plagues the Continent • 3 million died from AIDS worldwide in 2000 - 2.4 million lived in sub-Saharan Africa • In Swaziland, 3 of 4 deaths were from AIDS • life expectancy has fallen from 58 years to 39 • In 2000, 26 million people in Africa had HIV or AIDS

21. Solutions • Many countries are trying to fight disease epidemics in their countries • Educating the masses on the problems • Outside agencies have funded immunization and treatment • In some areas this has helped, but the struggle continues.

22. Political Instability

23. Europeans Leave Africa • European control begins to fade in 20th century • most countries gain independence in 1960s • Despite leaving, there is long-term damage to cultural and ethnic boundaries, economy

24. Independence to Civil War

25. Independence to Civil War • Colonial boundaries included rival ethnic groups in the same country. • Colonial governments increased the rivalries by favoring one group or pitting them against each other. • Colonial governments were often run with high levels of corruption. • After independence, many nations struggled with ethnic conflict and corruption.

29. Roots of Africa’s Problems • Early 19th century Africa was home to great empires, rich cultures • By the end of the 19th century—poverty and violence • Many of Africa’s problems stem from European colonialism

30. Europeans in Africa • Portuguese establish coastal trading stations in the 1400s • By mid-1800s, Europeans seek Africa’s rich natural resources • need raw materials for industrial economies, markets to sell goods • Berlin Conference (1884-85) sets rules for dividing up Africa