There’s a movie called, “While You Were Sleeping”. For all tens and purposes, it is appropriate for Africa at this given point in time. If I were to ask you, what do you think is the future is like for future generation on the continent, what would come to mind first?

But before we get there, I am focused intensely on the colossal poverty that Africa just cannot seem to shake off. If this were an illness, I am sure that by now we would have died. So what is the underlying diagnosis? We have been living with destitute poverty for centuries and Africa just seems to keep chugging along. Is it because we cannot live in a better environment, our leaders seem incapable, we do not have sufficient experience or qualified people, are our universities not good enough and those that are – are out of reach for the “poor but capable?”

Then we look back at the history of Africa and from a time of recording history, Africa has never been able to do a few things; elect the right leaders, besides the few we have – but poverty is more rife than not. Corruption right up and into elections and as prevalent as poverty and leaders have consistently struggled with development issues.

But all of these can be dealt with and in fairness and honesty; Africa has come a long way, albeit the journey is still long.

Whilst we watch the positive headlines of all the new technology being brought to the continent, the new deals in corporate world, the passion and success of a new youthful generation of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship – Africa is not sleeping folks.

Let’s get into the nitty gritty of our reality – Africa is the fastest and highest spending continent in the new “Arms Race”. The most interesting study is that of poverty and armed conflict on this continent. I say this because with so much development required, there should be something for everyone to do, besides armed conflict.

Africa receives billions of dollars in aid, yet remains the region with the most alarming poverty level. Credit: Spector UK
Africa receives billions of dollars in aid, yet remains the region with the most alarming poverty level.
Credit: Spector UK

A typical example is that in Africa, there is direct correlation between corruption and the amount of aid received. They are equal – receiving billion in dollars.  The PricewaterhouseCoopers South African edition of the Global Economic Crime Survey revealed corruption has cost South Africa R700-billion over the last 20 years; According to the UNDP Global Thematic Programme on Anti-Corruption for Development, corruption costs African economies more than $148 billion dollars each year; weak governance costing Africa billions – alongside other illicit outflows cost the continent $38.4 billion and $25 billion.

But yet behind all of this, behind the development initiatives, the opulent spending on conferences and spending on salaries, while we are either focused on reaching our rainbow, Africa is arming herself.

In South Africa in particular, in 1999, a $4.8 billion (R30 billion) was concluded and till this day remains at the centre of corruption charges against the then deputy President and now president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. However and despite this expenditure, South Africa’s military and Air force and Navy is a far cry from that of a top flight military power. There have been rumours of funding gaps and sub-serviced military and navy assets.

Billions of dollars are being poured into armoured vehicles, flak jackets and logistics across the continent. Global military spending has fallen by 35 percent, but according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute estimates, sub-Saharan Africa’s spending has risen by almost a third over the same period.

Surprising, it should be, because Africa’s bloodiest wars are supposedly over? Africa’s military spending increased by 8.3 per cent in 2013, reaching almost $44.9 billion – Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Algeria achieved the highest spend in 2013 with $10 billion dollars. Form 2012 – 2013 military spending on the continent increased by 81 percent – whatever for we should be asking. Considering that when with such spending, neither such plans were included in the promises made by the presidents elected.

Considering that Africa has a development funding gap of $40 billion annually, surely there is room for constructive budgeting. In 2013, Angola spent more on its military than South Africa on its armed forces, and South Africa’s economy is four times bigger than Angola’s.

The reality check: Africa’s wars cost $18 billion in losses subtract this from the cost of doing business, corruption and illicit outflows – seriously impeding development.  Compared to peaceful countries, African countries in conflict have, on average: 50 per cent more infant deaths; 15 per cent more undernourished people. life expectancy reduced by five years; 20 per cent more adult illiteracy; 2.5 times fewer doctors per patient; and 12.4 per cent less food per person.

Thus the value of the Human Development Index (HDI) drops, reducing the average conflict country from medium to low development.

Africa has just more than one seventh of the world’s populations and is also home to 20% of fatalities from handguns. The estimated cost of Africa’s armed conflict is estimated at £150bn. This is besides the cost of lives, infrastructure, loss of resources such as water and skills in the resources sector.

Another devastating example is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They suffered a decade of civil war causing 4 million deaths, costing £9 billion or 29 percent of its gross domestic product. This is a significant waste of resources that set back efforts in the arena of woman and child mortality programs, HIV/AIDS programmes and the sustenance of antiretroviral medication – impacting the rise in deaths not only from armed conflict or ethnic cleansing, but also increased death rates from HIV/AIDS related illnesses.

The reality and something studies are proving, despite exceptional growth on the African continent, corruption has not slowed. Actually it is perpetual and may seem to follow in the form of just another leader. The other challenge identified is the sustainability of this growth. If it is not sustain, uprisings can cascade down and over the continent of Africa.

While we are sleeping, the threats if extremism has long since reached Africa, in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria and MENA regions. The spill over of ISIS may be inevitable and has been a warming from Russia and Europe with travel permits being fraudulently previously been linked to South Africa in issuance – as recent as 2013. This reality is reason enough for Africa to arm itself.

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