Part of a child's development is being given greater autonomy and responsibility as they mature. It's the same with nations. 50 something years after independence, African countries are maturing and need to be given the space to take charge of their own destinies, make their own decisions and live their own lives--bearing the consequences--good or bad.
Changing timesWe live in a fast changing global environment where shifts of political and economic clout are taking place on a minute to minute basis. Africa is no longer as dependent on overseas development assistance as it was a few decades ago. According to the 2013 Africa Progress Report, private flows from Africans in the Diaspora remitting monies back to the continent has overtaken Foreign Direct Investments and Overseas Development Assistance. According to the World Bank, remittances in 2013 to the developing world were more than three times the size of official development assistance.
What's more, Africa has been undergoing a decade long economic expansion. Six of the world's fastest growing economies are now found in Africa. If the West refuses to help African states because they refuse to be controlled, these states should help themselves by leveraging their resources and expertise--because they CAN!
That notwithstanding, African nations are not islands. They need the rest of the global family including the West, East, and South as much as the global family needs them. African nations still need aid but the nature of aid needed is no longer as much financial as it is technical. African countries need technical assistance to aid them add value to their raw materials instead of exporting them all abroad. But the rules of engagement need serious revision. The times of having absolute disregard for African nations and manipulating their national policies from the West to the detriment of their people's wishes are fast coming to a close. The will of the African people should reign supreme over and above any external interests.
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