South African President Thabo Mbeki has finally articulated what millions of Africans have been thinking for quite a long time. Is HIV really the cause of AIDS in Africa and are the very expensive drugs made by giant western firms, the only relief? Milan Vesely discusses the impact of Mbeki’s hand-written letter to Western heads of state and the effect this is likely to have on an international conference on the disease slated for July in Durban.

The June 17 Algiers agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea closed a very sad chapter in the African story by bringing to an end one of the most unnecessary wars to be fought on the continent. After shooting at each other for two years and destabilizing two of Africa’s most promising economies, the two countries have decided that it is time to call it quits. This is good news for Africa. xxxxxBut positive stories like this do not make a major part of the daily African news menu. Rather, newspapers and television screens are routinely filled with stories of conflict, destitution and despair in Africa. Stories of war in the Congo, political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe, or civil war in Sierra Leone are more the order of the day.xxxxxNot unexpectedly, an external audience fed on this menu, soon begins to toe an all too familiar line - hand-wringing. There is the temptation to see Africa as a lost cause and to take the easy way out and write off the continent.xxxxxBut while these stories are generally true, they tell a greatly exaggerated story of Africa’s problems. The continent’s challenges are as diverse as they are complex and as such, any response to them must take into account this complexity. A simplistic answer just will not do. Despite suffering some very harsh realities, the fact remains that a real platform for sustained economic and political growth exist on the continent.xxxxxThe media reports give great credence to the many conflicts in Africa and the extensive challenge they pose to the continent. But they fail to add that all these clashes, except for the Eritrea/Ethiopia war, have tended to involve relatively small numbers of lightly armed troops, many of them irregulars. Moreover, most of the fighting has had to do with limited economic goals such as securing rich mineral concessions, an indication of the link between the wars and such broader issues as lack of accountable, transparent institutional structures essential for a stable government and a functioning economy. xxxxxAll that one needs to do is to look around to see how much about Africa is left unreported. For every story of backwardness, there is a string of success stories. Take the case of Senegal. Consistent implementations of the democratic ideal since independence has established that country as one of the most politically stable. The latest peaceful transfer of power from President Abdou Diouf to his successor, President Abdoulaye Wade, is only the continuation of a tradition that has made Senegal a unique success story. Elsewhere, for example in Nigeria and South Africa, the emergence of accountable democratic governments after years of repressive rule is leading to a political and economic revival likely to give Africa a clout in the new Millennium that it has never had in the past. xxxxxMozambique a proud examplexxxxxUganda and Rwanda, despite their recent adventure in the Congo, provide evidence of how nations can overcome devastating catastrophes like the Idi Amin and Milton Obote dictatorships in Uganda and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.xxxxxIn Mozambique, well-thought out policies backed with support from the international community have seen that country move from being the war-ravaged destitute of the early 1990s to one of today’s fastest growing economies. To its credit, Mozambique has held two democratic elections and has enjoyed economic growth of 10% or more in recent years. The devastating flood could mean that growth may slow down this year. But even then, it is expected to reach 5%. A comprehensive reconstruction plan drawn up by the government, and for which international donors have pledged full support, is expected to help the country return to full growth.xxxxxThese are just a few of the stories of triumph that abound all over Africa. They exist at every level - regional, national, state andlocal. The point is that through accountability at the ballot box, policy consistency, the rule of law and sustained effort to attract private capital, many African countries are saying in a clear voice that they no longer want to be part of the familiar images that have been used to portray the continent. They are saying to the world that they have the ability to make Africa a land where equal opportunities and access reign.xxxxxThe challenge before the international community is to support this new found resolve by targeting development support and helping countries to build up their capacities in the form of participatory societies that ensure equitable access to services such as education, health-care and all aspects of the economy for all citizens.xxxxxThe solution, of course, must take into account the need for urgent and concerted action against the continent’s debt burden as well as an increase in the level of development assistance going to Africa. xxxxxThe industrial countries must also open up their markets to goods such as textiles and agriculture products in which Africa has comparative advantage.xxxxxAfrica’s challenges may be vast. But with political and economic stability and good governance in place, the stage is set for sustainable development. xxxxxThe international community has a responsibility to ensure that Africa remains relevant in the coming years by giving full support and commitment to the efforts of Africans.

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