The policymakers of the African continent face some of the toughest challenges in the world today. James Eedes lists the eight most noteworthy figures who have worked to stabilise, reform and improve their respective economies.UK chancellor Gordon Brown has emerged as champion of Africa’s cause, arguing for a better dispensation for the continent. UK prime minister Tony Blair is getting in on the act. And ageing rocker Bono of the band U2 is also a campaigner. In all this, it’s easy to overlook the fact that even with debt relief, more aid and fairer trade, Africans themselves have to implement the right policies, justify often tough measures to uneasy electorates and resist fierce opposition from reluctant or corrupt elites. It is a job requiring leadership, tenacity and political nous.
Nigeria’s finance minister is campaigning hard for debt relief for the country and finding plenty of sympathy but little action so far.James Eades reports.Nigeria’s finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is on the road to convince the country’s creditors to forgive its debts. Two months into the year hailed by many as the year of Africa, the timing arguably could not be better. But she is finding that a sympathetic hearing does not necessarily equate with actual debt relief.
After years of mismanagement, the Central African States Development Bank has made a remarkable financial recovery in just three years, under the stewardship of president Anicet Georges Dologuélé. By Fabien Buliard.The Central African States Development Bank (La Banque de Développement des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale – BDEAC) is sparing no effort to restore its credibility, following a period of dormancy throughout the 1990s in which it ceased all lending activities to focus on reimbursing its debt and recovering a staggering amount of outstanding payments.