Forbes.com The most important in this week’s headlines out of and about Africa, for those who need help catching up.
In this week’s news, the Central African Republic names a new Prime Minister, and U.S. economist Harry Broadman wants our economic perceptions about Africa to change.
Economist, Harry Broadman, Frustrated By Notion of “Africa As A Country”
We’ve heard it many times, when many smart and not-so-smart people in America and in other parts of the world think, or refer to the African continent as a “country” rather than a continent. There is even a website, Africa Is A Country, founded as a way to poke fun at the notion that a continent of 54 countries could even be considered a country.
While some people are familiar with what goes on in the African continent, others around the world, the U.S. especially, don’t know what the continent has to offer in terms of business and economics.
Because of this, coupled with the fact that opportunities for business with the continent are being missed, or go unrealized, really frustrates Forbes magazine contributor, Harry Broadcman.
Broadman, with more than 35 years of global experience in some of the most diverse and challenging areas of business and government, is a faculty member at John’s Hopkins university and CEO of Proa Global Partners LLC.
Writing about “Africa, The Continent of Economic Misperceptions,” he wonders why “Africa is the only continent today that is regularly referred to as a “country.”
Broadman says he “bristles” when this happens. Africa is not a “monolith,” he contents. What the continent has to offer, he says, is lots of business and investment opportunities, despite the challenges of “corruption, reputational, and political risk” which plaque it.
“Indeed, when I hear sweeping references made about one emerging market in the world as being more or less risky, or being a better investment opportunity, than another, I have to chuckle—and frankly not in a good way.”
What shall I say! Please check this out because it is certainly a great read.
With A New P.M., Central African Republic Consolidating Peace
As the Central African Republic settles down to a new era of peace and reconciliation, the president, Faustin Archange Touadéra, has decided who he wants to help him run the government.
That person, the new Prime Minister and head of government, is Touadera’s former campaign manager, Simplice Sarandji. The appointment was made by a presidential decree and announced on state radio, according to this Reuters report. Meanwhile we are told the rest of the cabinet will be announced soon.
Faustin Archange Touadéra, who was recently elected president after a second round of votes, “has pledged to bring peace and development to the former French colony, which was seized by religious and inter-commununal conflict from 2013, when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew longtime ruler Francois Bozize.”
