Landlocked Countries Of Africa And Political Economic Opportunities

Africa is a resource basket of the world. That much is known. There are ways it can set itself up to serve Africans both in landlocked and coastline states. Channels of communication make it easier to be part of the world trade mechanisms. One way to do this is through establishing reporting mechanisms. 

Trade, technology and treaties expand opportunities for people in Africa to engage in making their continent a thriving place.They add to the norms of acumen, broadness, civility and industriousness in Africa. In an essay about landlocked countries performing better than non-landlocked countries, Mungai (2016) argues that landlocked countries do better because they "invest substantially in improving customs procedures, shipping, tracking and tracing, because they know their livelihoods depend on it." "While," she continues, " in coastal countries, goods basically arrive at their doorstep, they can afford to sit around as their port and transport systems languish." 

The central region has potential and being landlocked does not mean inadequacy. Using the geopolitical assets such as  waterways, mineral resources and the people  will set so much in motion. This might be one of the big answers to the youth bulge and creation of narratives to replace the ancient knowledge about Africa.  

According to the New World Encyclopedia, “In 2006 the majority of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa had median ages of less than 20, compared to over 30 in Asia and Latin America, 36 in the United States, and over 40 in Europe and Japan. Life expectancy at birth ranged from 61.8 years in Madagascar to 32.6 in Swaziland. In 25 countries, it was below 50 years. In seven countries, it was 40 years or less. These figures are attributed to difficulties in accessing health care, low living standards, conflicts and especially the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Revenues from extractive industries are central to the political economy of many African countries and the region as a whole. In 2001, oil production generated 20 percent of the combined GDP of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2002, mining constituted about eight percent of the GDP of the Southern Africa Development Community and 43 percent of the region’s exports. Globally, Africa is becoming increasingly important to world energy supplies.” 

African countries are now more organized and positioned to take lead in addressing the challenges facing the continent. One way it is being done is through pooling resources together and forming regional trade blocs such as the Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC), EAC & ECOWAS.  The pace of institutionalized democratization and affirmation in Africa is phenomenal. 

Identifiable structures exist to address: governance; democratization; infrastructural development; dignity; social justice; and human rights. Opportunities exist for agriculture & agro-industries, sustainable environment planning, economic & financial governance, human capital development, employment, private sector, and gender at innovation, leadership, governance, policy, programming and implementation levels. 

Reporting mechanisms in Africa include: sovereign state structures; international bodies; and civil society. Plans exist to involve say, women in taking leading roles in development. According to the African Development Bank Group News and Events, the recent 11th African Economic Conference in Abuja advocated for measures that will guarantee women access to land and promote women’s land rights in both urban and rural areas. Speakers at a session on land at the annual conference, co-organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted role of security, property ownership, property rights, land rights, credit  extension and participation by Africans especially women in contributing to all forms of productivity (Afdb). Elections, democracy, good Governance, health-related investments in Africa are now given priority at different levels of social-political administration (SADC). An addition like Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) makes Africa a predictable and organized continent.

Landlockedness should not be looked at as a disadvantage. There are different mechanisms that are functional and beneficial, which if built around themes or targets, the outcomes can provide traction toward development. Such targets include: trade, technology, treaties on security, dignity, liberties, quality life, civility and industriousness in Africa, landlocked or otherwise. 

When Africa is organized and strategic, it can learn lessons from USA, China or Russia. In the picture is Moscow during the World Cup ( dubbed the World Peace Cup) 2018. Africa can learn how to host such events by reaching out and making friends with countries that play hosts to such events.