International Policy

What Ails Africa?

The Clinton administration is coming under fire for shying away from criticizing African leaders out of fear of being branded "racist" and to avoid offending black American voters.

Some observers fear that the administration's timidity could cripple growth prospects for that mineral-rich continent. Future growth, they say, will depend on political stability and economic reform to attract investment.

  • According to the Index of Economic Freedom, the number of African democracies declined to 13 from 15 in 1995.

  • Some analysts believe that Africa has the potential for gross domestic product growth per capita of 12 percent or more annually.

  • But GDP growth in 1996 was only 5 percent, while population increased 3 percent, leaving per capita growth at a meager 2 percent.

  • African specialists blame onerous state controls, unstable currencies, runaway government expenditures, confiscatory taxes, political instability and crumbling infrastructure for creating an environment inimical to development.

Some African pro-democracy leaders and their black counterparts in the U.S. accuse mainstream black leaders here for making a bad situation in Africa even worse -- praising dictators there and giving bad advice to policymakers here.

Critics advise the Clinton administration to condition U.S. aid programs -- including the proposed $650 million African Growth and Investment Opportunity Act -- on the establishment of strong, independent central banks, judicial reform, press freedom, and impartial and respected security forces.

Others point out that past U.S. aid to African countries has more often than not been wasted or confiscated by African leaders. In view of these failures, they ask, why should the U.S. continue to pour resources into the continent?

Source: George B.N. Ayittey (American University and the Free Africa Foundation), "African Thugs Keep Their Continent Poor," Wall Street Journal, January 2, 1998.

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