March 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:15 PM

And now for some good news
Geoffrey York

Johannesburg --There are so many gloomy stories about Africa, from the wars of Somalia to the cholera of Zimbabwe and the chaos of Congo, that it's important to remember how much progress has been achieved by many African countries in recent years.

This is not a continent of hopelessness and despair, even though many people like to portray it that way. Disasters and coups always make the headlines, but there has been remarkable progress on many fronts during the past decade.

As an antidote to pessimism, here are a few examples of good news from Africa, culled from recent reports by Unicef, the Africa Progress Panel, and the Millennium Promise organization. When cynics try to write off Africa as a hopeless place, try quoting a few of these statistics:

Dramatic improvement in Africa's child mortality rate (under the age of 5). The child mortality rate, which was 229 per 1,000 births in 1970, has now fallen to 146 in 2007. Since 1990, the child mortality rate has dropped by 40 per cent or more in countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger and Eritrea.
The growth of democracy in Africa. There are almost 30 democracies in Africa today, compared to just five at the end of the Cold War.
More peace and less war. There are three civil wars in Africa today, compared to 13 in the 1990s.
Education improvements. Net enrolment in primary schools in Africa increased from 53 per cent to 70 per cent in the past two decades.
Adult literacy has increased from 27 per cent to 62 per cent in the past three decades.
Health improvements. Measles deaths have dropped by 89 per cent in the current decade, mostly because of higher levels of immunization.
Progress in the fight against AIDS. Several countries have significantly reduced their AIDS prevalence rates. More than two million people are receiving AIDS treatment today, compared with just 10,000 people in 2001.
Better governance. Of the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 31 have improved their governance performance, as measured by the Ibrahim Index.
Progress in the battle against malaria. Countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia have seen a sharp drop in malaria deaths because of the widespread distribution of mosquito nets and malaria medicine in recent years. Malaria death rates have dropped by as much as 66 per cent.
Latest Comments

clause61 6/26/2009 1:35:13 AM
Sub Saharan Africa has 48 countries with 48 different stories.

In the part of Africa that I live in, I can see significant improvements in wealth creation and governance. There seems to be a genuine attempt to change the way things are done for the betterment of all.

However, the long time politicians and long time bureaucrats and tribal elders are trying to slow things down so they can continue to enjoy the benefits they have been able to extract from the status quo. I worry that as the sub-continent moves towards more free market economies, rule of law, transparency in government and freedom of association, the entrenched interests are going to take action to preserve their current benefits. And it seems to me that anyone over 45 years of age in a position of responsibility is having a tough time making the transition. Their difficulties in making the change will help the vested interests.

While it makes me happy to see progress occurring, I sometimes worry about the pace and the will and ability to stand up to the entrenched interests.