Toward a New, Prosperous Africa

Few would describe Africa as "first world". Unfortunately, its problems, increasingly, are.

The continent is now facing threats to its civil, social, and economic life. It's not at all hyperbolic to says Africa's future is in peril.

Without peace guaranteed by security, complex menaces -- conventional, asymmetric, financial and pandemic -- could easily destroy a millennia-old civilization otherwise ripe to enter modernity.

In the last the five decades, Africa has faced changes brought about and exacerbated by global disruptive forces. The continent has seen the privatization of nation states, the loss of vast quantities of natural resources, the defoliation of its forests, wars and constant changes causing severe depredations and uncertainty.

One key detrimental force in Africa is that its citizenry is largely uninvolved in the political debate, thus not enriching nor expanding it. This noninvolvement leads to armed insurrection against states with weak governing mandates. The process we seek to disrupt is that of citizen to militia member to bandit.

Violence and attendant cynicism ensue and leadership is weakened. The ultimate result is fragile democracy, armed struggle for natural resources, unraveling institutions, the criminalization of government, economic and financial life, all of which feed into a degradation of the condition of civic life and discourse in Africa. In an economy of war more or less resembling a mafia structure the damages are many, bringing with them a widespread mercenary involvement and the rapid cycle of illegitimate governments.

In this uncertain environment the development of political structures is painful and uncertain. The political discourse is tainted by power and often rendered powerless.

If the leadership of Africa is to succeed, it must be expanded; bringing together people who have lived in and understand Africa, its unique challenges and needs.

We must start by uniting those who have lived the African struggle, and whose advice and counsel are vital; businesspeople, religious leaders and multidisciplinary experts who can adapt current world knowledge to Africa's particular, urgent needs and history.

Peace, after all, is the responsibility of every individual.

Now is the time to reach out to new voices in the African political debate. A new Africa -- one of stability and increasing quality of life -- need not, cannot -- be heralded by those already entrenched in the old, malfunctioning political classes.

The notion of "universal democracy" is a nice one. Except it has yet to ever take hold.

The majority of the world's constitutions were written in times of peace. To be embraced, constitutions must first be cognizant of particular histories and present needs.

Come forward thought leaders of West, Central, East and Southern Africa; the people of Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, Mali, Congo-Brazaville, the DRC. Serve as an inspiration to the rest of the world.

THE PRIORITIZED PROJECT FOR AFRICA

Africa's highest priority must be to preserve the sacredness and value of human life. People who do not participate in the political discourse ultimately become part of an impoverishment of the spirit.

In Africa, the culture of mediocrity has destroyed all ethical values. No political, economic or social program could significantly modify human life in Africa unless it respects human life in action as well as in words. Let us remember that the enduring elements of social life in the world recognize that:

• The ultimate liberty is responsibility.

• Love is essential for building society and its hopes and dreams

The challenges facing Africa create a need for communication that transcends rivalry and focuses on the sacredness of our purpose. My partners in this multifaceted vehicle and I are naming it in bold letters:

L'Afrique

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Medard Mbemba has been a key strategic advisor to dozens of Heads-of-State in Africa for over 30 years. He is the chairman of CITRAPIL, one of West Africa's most successful energy transport firms.