Africa: EU-Africa Summit, Chinese Influence, South Africa's Cure

The close of the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon has been a dissappointment for most African leaders.

President Wade of Senegal: "Today [it] is very clear that Europe is close to losing the battle of competition in Africa."

President Wade is of course referring to China's increased influence, aid, and economic spending in Africa. China's help, unlike the EU's, doesn't entail political pressures calling for increased human rights or democracy.

Europe and Africa Disappointment
African leaders are displeased by the WTO calling for an end of preferential trade toward Africa, Gordon Brown's absence, the EU's plan for import tax reduction, the lack of debt reduction, and the effect European subsidied goods has on African economies.

The EU has also called for a goal of recruiting 20 million new skilled workers to the EU. Come on now don't drain away the skilled workers from Africa! Let them have some!

China's Influence Dominates the West
China on the other hand has cancelled over 10 billion dollars of debt and is continuing to cut it while bringing in more aid. China's also advocating zero-tariff trade. West-central African oil exports (25% goes to China), timber (60% goes to China), and economic diversification is heavily tied to China - and increasingly rapidly. This aid touches places like Zimbabwe and Sudan that the West forbids. While all this aid and economic interaction could surely be beneficial, ignoring human rights and corruption certainly can't be good.

China also does not have the stain of colonialism that the West has. The West's former domination over China and Chinese aid to Africa in the 1970's is something that sits well with African countries. While fears of new economic self-interest from China are held, China's plans in part because of indifference to domestic policy are regarded with much less suspician by African leaders.

The Solution is in Africa
Perhaps the answer to Africa's growth lies in its own regional players. South Africa has become a regional powerhouse ever since the abondonment of its isolationist Apartheid regime. A recent $500 million dam project in the Congo will generate much needed clean energy for much of the Congo as well as using excess energy to fuel South Africa's factories.

The African Union's presence is proving critical in its attempts in maintaining order and stopping human rights atrocities. Something the West and the EU has always seemed reluctant or slow to respond to.

Africa's Future is Promising
Internal diversification, regional trading blocs, the soon to emerge oil boom from countries like Chad (and of course Nigeria's established oil industry, increasing public outrage at corruption, construction of its own pharmecutical factories (hello cheaper drugs), and increasing African freedom from neo-colonial direction is guiding Africa to a brighter future.