Habré among the leaders who belong in the past

News about the recent conviction of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré for substantial human rights abuses had us stepping back in time for a moment into a different Africa. 

Of course‚ there is a new breed of younger leaders making positive changes in their countries and who are obviously more in touch with a modernising continent.

But are they influential enough to turn around the continental ship and set it on course for “The Africa we Want” — the tag-line of Agenda 2063‚ the African Union’s 50-year programme for the continent’s development?

The emphasis in political and economic discussions should obviously be focused on youth‚ regional integration‚ technology‚ local resource mobilisation and economic self-sufficiency – the elements of a development trajectory a world away from the Africa of the 1980s.

History is important in evolving nations‚ it provides a benchmark for and lessons about what we want and don’t want.

Many leaders who should‚ by now‚ be part of that history – and not any sort of “golden past” – are still charting the future.

Dianna Games is CEO of business advisory Africa@Work