AFRICA VS THE WORLD: THE BATTLE FOR POWER AND RESOURCES
AFRICA VS THE WORLD: THE BATTLE FOR POWER AND RESOURCES
By Adetunji Adigun
Africa is the world's second-largest continent, covering approximately 30 million square kilometers and comprising 54 countries. Africa is home to a diverse range of cultures, languages, and ethnic groups, with over 3,000 different ethnic groups and over 2,000 languages spoken on the continent.
Africa is a continent rich in natural resources, including minerals, forests, wildlife, and arable land. It consists of rich natural resources which include: oil, gold, diamonds, and other minerals. However, despite the abundance of natural resources, many African countries continue to face challenges in harnessing these resources for sustainable development. These challenges that African countries face are significant economic and social challenges which: include poor governance, corruption, conflict, and inadequate infrastructure, among others
Africa’s setback on the world’s stage: The backstory of the colonial drive
Africa is a continent of immense potential, with a young and growing population, a vibrant cultural heritage, and a wealth of natural resources. However at the beginning and through history of the colonial drive, Africa has been shaped by colonialism, slavery, and the struggle for independence, and it continues to face many social and economic challenges. The colonial drive was a period in history when European powers competed to establish and expand their empires by acquiring territories in other parts of the world, including Africa. The roots of the colonial drive can be traced back to the 15th century, when European nations such as Portugal, Spain, and England began exploring the world in search of new trade routes and territories to conquer. As the Europeans conquered and settled in other continents the demand for goods grew, leading to “The Scramble Africa”.
“The Scramble for Africa”, is the term used to describe the period of intense competition among European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to acquire colonies and territories in Africa. In this period; European nations such as Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Portugal, competed fiercely for control of African resources and markets which eventually led up to the carving up of the continent into colonies. The Scramble for Africa was driven by several factors, including economic interests, strategic considerations, and the desire for prestige and power.
Africa promptly became the land of milk and honey for the colonial masters. European powers sought to acquire control of Africa's rich natural resources, including gold, diamonds, rubber, ivory, and other raw materials, which could be used to fuel the industrialization and economic growth of their home countries. The Berlin Conference which was held in 1884-85, marked a significant turning point in the Scramble for Africa. At this conference, European powers met to establish the rules for the partition of Africa. They agreed to recognize each other's claims to African territories, and to establish rules for the peaceful transfer of land between European powers. This led to the carving up of Africa into artificial borders that often ignored ethnic and cultural boundaries, leading to conflicts and instability in the region that persist to this day.
Neocolonialism and its effect on the African economy
The Scramble for Africa had a profound impact on the continent, as it led to the exploitation of African resources, the forced displacement of millions of people, and the imposition of colonial rule, which disrupted local cultures and social systems. The legacy of colonialism continues to affect many African countries today, as they struggle to overcome the economic and political challenges created by the colonial past.
In the African context, neocolonialism has had a devastating impact on the continent, as it has perpetuated a cycle of poverty, underdevelopment, and political instability. One of the main effects of neocolonialism in Africa has been the perpetuation of economic inequality and exploitation. Many African countries have been forced to rely on the export of raw materials, such as oil, minerals, and agricultural products, to generate foreign exchange and revenue. However, these exports often come at a low price, and the profits from them are often siphoned off by multinational corporations and powerful countries, leaving African countries with little to invest in their own development.
Neocolonialism has also contributed to political instability in Africa, as powerful countries have often supported corrupt and repressive regimes in African countries in order to maintain their own economic and political interests. This has led to a lack of political accountability and the suppression of democratic movements, which has in turn contributed to the erosion of the rule of law, human rights violations, and conflicts in many African countries. Furthermore, neocolonialism has perpetuated a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa, as many African countries have been unable to invest in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, which are crucial for long-term economic growth and development.
Neocolonialism has had a significant impact on the African continent, perpetuating economic inequality, political instability, and poverty.
Africa’s stand in the world today in terms of resources: production and technological advancement
While Africa stands rich in resources and has made progress in terms of technological advancement in some areas, there is significant room for improvement in terms of economic development, innovation, and sustainable resource management. To address these issues, African countries must work towards greater economic and political independence and ensure that their resources are managed in a sustainable and equitable manner.
Africa is a significant global producer of several key resources including; oil, minerals, and agricultural products. For example, African countries such as Nigeria, Angola, and Algeria are major oil producers, while countries such as South Africa, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are major producers of minerals such as copper, cobalt, and diamonds. Similarly, countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Ghana are important producers of agricultural products such as coffee, cocoa, and tea. Despite the richness of Africa, African countries face challenges in realizing the full potential of their resources, due to issues such as poor infrastructure, inadequate investment, and corruption. This leaves many African countries in heavy dependence on the export of raw materials, which leaves them vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices.
In terms of technological advancement, Africa has made significant progress in recent years, particularly in the areas of mobile technology and renewable energy. For example, many African countries have leapfrogged traditional landline telecommunications infrastructure and instead rely heavily on mobile phones and mobile banking services. Similarly, many African countries are investing heavily in renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, which has the potential to improve access to electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, there is still significant room for improvement in terms of technological advancement in Africa, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing.
African countries face challenges in terms of access to funding, research and development, and intellectual property rights, which can limit their ability to develop and adopt new technologies.
Setbacks that have contributed to Africa's underdevelopment
Western influence on African development has often been harmful, perpetuating inequality, exploitation, and underdevelopment.
Political and religious setbacks have had a significant impact on Africa's development, with both contributing to economic instability, social unrest, and human rights abuses.
In terms of politics, Africa has faced a number of challenges related to corruption, authoritarianism, and weak institutions. Many African countries have struggled to establish stable and democratic governments, with some countries experiencing frequent coups and civil wars. This political instability has often resulted in the diversion of resources away from social and economic development, as well as human rights abuses and the suppression of democratic rights and freedoms. Furthermore, political and religious setbacks have also hindered progress in key areas such as education and healthcare. In some cases, political interference has led to a lack of funding for these critical services, while in others, religious beliefs have hindered access to essential health services and educational opportunities.
Exploitation of resources and Imposition of Western models: The extraction of Africa's natural resources, such as minerals and oil, by Western companies has often been exploitative and harmful to local communities. These companies have been known to engage in practices such as environmental degradation, land grabs, and labor abuses. Imposition of Western models: Western countries and institutions have often imposed their own models of development on African countries, without taking into account local contexts or needs. This has often led to the implementation of policies that are not effective or appropriate for African countries, and have contributed to economic instability and social unrest.
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have imposed structural adjustment policies on African countries as a condition for financial support. These policies have often led to austerity measures that have disproportionately affected the poor and have contributed to economic and social instability. In addition, many African countries have struggled with issues related to religion, including sectarian violence, religious discrimination, and the imposition of religious law. In some cases, religious conflict has led to civil war and the displacement of populations. This has had a significant impact on social and economic development, with religious conflict contributing to poverty, displacement, and a lack of investment in critical infrastructure and services.
This brings us to the question of how does Africa move forward? What are the prerequisites needed for a successful African economy? How do we make sure we utilize our resources without the interference of the Western of Foreign powers as well as terrible leaders? Essentially what is the way forward in making the geology of the continent be of use to its own people? How does Africa become respected on the global stage?