European colonialism and it’s aftermath has left most of today’s independent African nations with economic, health, educational, and political problems.

Compounding these problems is Africa’s challenging geography.

Africa’s history of colonization has had long-term effects on its economy.

Barriers to African economic development include illiteracy, foreign debt, and a lack of manufacturing industries.

European colonizers exploited Africa’s resources, peopleEuropean colonies

were set up only to benefit Europe.

Land was mined, drilled; environment was ignored

Most countries do little manufacturing sell raw materials to

industrialized countries All this has limited

Africa’s economic growth, political stability

In fact, most African countries are worse off today than in 1960 average incomes have

decreased

African countries lack crucial infrastructure such as roads, airports, railroads, ports.

Many people have little access computers or high technology

Newly independent countries borrowed money to build economies total Africa debt of

governments was $295 billion by 2002

many Western leaders push to forgive Africa’s debts

“One-commodity” countries rely on export of one or two commoditiescommodity —agricultural or

mining product that can be soldvalue varies daily based on

worldwide supply and demand this makes “one-commodity”

nations’ economies unstable Economists want Africans to

diversify — create variety in economies

Uneducated populace is a large barrier to economic development

Average schooling time for women up only 1.2 years in last 40 years

In Angola and Somalia, civil wars have destroyed school systems

But in Algeria, 94% get a formal education 83% of Mauritians over 15 are

literate

Many of Africa’s best and brightest end up migrating to western nations.

Many urge them to return and help out their nations.

Epidemic diseases are killing Africa’s people in huge numbers.

African nations and countries around the world are using a variety of methods, including education, to eradicate disease.

Cholera —sometimes fatal infectionspread by poor sanitation, lack of clean water

Malaria —often-fatal infectious disease marked by chills, fevercarried by mosquitoes; resistant to drugs due to

overuse Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

(AIDS)—caused by HIV virus70% of adult, 80% of child AIDS cases are in Africaoften paired with tuberculosis—infectious

respiratory infection

3 million died from AIDS worldwide in 2000- 2.4 million lived in sub-

Saharan Africa In Swaziland, 3 of 4

deaths were from AIDS life expectancy has fallen

from 58 years to 39 In 2000, 26 million

people in Africa had HIV or AIDS

Many countries are trying to fight disease epidemics in their countries

Educating the masses on the problems

Outside agencies have funded immunization and treatment

In some areas this has helped, but the struggle continues.

European control begins to fade in 20th centurymost countries gain

independence in 1960s Despite leaving,

there is long-term damage to cultural and ethnic boundaries, economy

Colonial boundaries included rival ethnic groups in the same country.

Colonial governments increased the rivalries by favoring one group or pitting them against each other.

Colonial governments were often run with high levels of corruption.

After independence, many nations struggled with ethnic conflict and corruption.

Early 19th century Africa was home to great empires, rich cultures

By the end of the 19th century—poverty and violence

Many of Africa’s problems stem from European colonialism

Portuguese establish coastal trading stations in the 1400s

By mid-1800s, Europeans seek Africa’s rich natural resourcesneed raw materials for

industrial economies, markets to sell goods

Berlin Conference (1884-85) sets rules for dividing up Africa