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
Habré among the leaders who belong in the past
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
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