The interaction between artisanal (small scale) mining and agriculture in Africa still needs to be carefully considered by policy makers to ensure that people’s livelihoods and countries’ export revenues aren’t threatened. It’s also important that the relationship between the two sectors is optimised to mutual benefit.
The interaction between artisanal (small scale) mining and agriculture in Africa still needs to be carefully considered by policy makers to ensure that people’s livelihoods and countries' export revenues aren’t threatened. It’s also important that the relationship between the two sectors is optimised to mutual benefit.
Resource-rich African countries are facing significant economic headwinds. Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, depends on oil for over 90% of its foreign exchange earnings and three-quarters of government revenue. The slump in oil prices has adversely affected Nigeria’s economic prospects, pushing GDP growth into negative territory to -1.5% in 2016 before bouncing back to 1.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2017.
The Ruzizi III Hydropower Plant Project, which serves Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda, could create about 135,200 total jobs over the project’s lifespan. It will increase the region’s access to electricity by 300% too. This project is important in the face of limited access to electricity in these countries: 10% in Burundi, 15% in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 30% in Rwanda.
The truth is that Africa is growing. Things look promising for the continent. The World Bank, in its 2018 Global Economic Prospects, says 6 of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies will be in Africa. This is good news. It probably firms up the narrative that Africa has moved from a ‘hopeless continent’ to a ‘hopeful continent’.
Kennedy, Johnson, (Nixon), Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Clinton, Bush, Obama, then, Trump. What would the great political interviewers of the past made of Donald Trump? I doubt many would have risked interviewing him for fear of being arrested (or worse).