13 June 2001
Never in history have Africans faced a more critical choice. Never in the history of a continent has the world been more challenged to take a stand. With determined political leadership, globalisation offers the prospect of widening frontiers of democracy, rising economic prosperity and the eradication of poverty. But without a new political vision, both in Africa and the rest of the world, Africa face s social, economic and political marginalisation. Our two Governments are working together to seize this opportunity.
The Labour Party stood shoulder to shoulder with the African National Congress in the fight against apartheid. Now both our parties are in Government, and we are bound together not only by our history, but also by a common commitment to unite our nations i n pursuit of a better life. And we are at one that the fight against poverty in Africa is the most pressing moral challenge of our time.
But it's more than morality that inspires our confidence in Africa's future.
Africa is a continent of opportunity. The rich complex of mineral, oil and gas deposits, its flora and fauna and its wide unspoiled habitat provide the basis for mining, agriculture and tourism. Africa is an environmental lung, provided by the continent's rain forests, and minimal emissions and effluents. Africa is the cradle of humanity, and home to rich palaeontological and archaeological sites. Most of all, Africa's diverse people possess rich cultures and strong community values. Their creativity and po tential yearn to burst out of the shell of underdevelopment and neglect.
Humanity cannot be indifferent to the fact that 40% of Africa's people live on less than a pound a day. The world cannot pretend to be at peace when parts of Africa are affected by violent conflict. When millions of Africans die each year from malaria, tub erculosis and HIV/AIDS, humanity is left devastatingly the poorer. When economic and social progress is hindered by conflict and ineffectual government, the global polity suffers.
These woes add to the history of colonialism and dispossession to relegate Africa to the lowest rungs of human development.
But we are optimistic. There is a consensus emerging within the continent on the need for Africans to take the lead in facing up to the challenges. The realisation is dawning on all and sundry that, in the final analysis, it is Africans themselves who will extricate the continent from this malaise. What is required is for the world to join Africans in an enduring partnership that will benefit all of us.
The African journey towards a better life has started. It is an enterprise whose milestones include the establishment of more inclusive and accountable political institutions, the peaceful resolution of conflict, sustainable development, the provision of s ervices such as health and education in a manner that improves people's quality of life, and the creation of an environment for greater investment and faster economic growth.
Across the continent, Africans have in recent years more resolutely shown their preference for democratic governance and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The Organisation of African Unity has shut its doors to those who come to power by military or ot her undemocratic and unconstitutional means.
Many governments have built the capacity to manage their resources more effectively to benefit the people. Poverty reduction strategies that include economic reforms and plans to improve government services are widespread; and they are, for instance, a cri tical part of the programmes of the eighteen African countries which have received debt relief.
In the recent period, Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, returned to democratic civilian rule and South Africa has had its second democratic elections. Last year, elections in Ghana, Mauritius and Senegal saw peaceful democratic transitions. In Sierr a Leone, the UK is working with other nations under the auspices of the United Nations to help the Government to achieve peace and restore order. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a cease-fire. In the Horn of Africa, the war between Ethiopia an d Eritrea has been resolved. African countries, including South Africa, have played a critical role in these achievements.
Across the continent, the efforts to attain economic growth and development are starting to bear fruit. Led by legitimate governments, countries such as Uganda, Mali and Mozambique are experiencing high growth rates and poverty reduction. The fastest growi ng economy in the world in the 1990s was Botswana.
In all these and other countries, progress is underpinned by partnership between African and developed countries, and between governments and the private sector. One of the key requirements for faster progress is that developing countries themselves must l ead the process of change.
For too long, some donors and international institutions have dictated to governments of the poor, imposing policies which may appear impeccable in economic manuals, but which are ill-suited to Africa's conditions. Lacking in local support, such efforts ha ve invariably failed. So, have programmes conducted in a manner that benefits the elites, and arrangements that lend themselves to corrupt practices.
That is why African nations are working together to develop a new, overarching vision for the continent. African leaders are pledging that they will take the steps necessary to mobilise resources and use them to eradicate poverty. They will promote governm ents based on the will of the people, committed to human rights and people-centred development. They will consult widely and openly among their communities to ensure that their programmes meet the needs of the poor.
Africa is calling for its initiatives to be complemented by a new partnership between the continent and the international community. This is not an appeal merely for more aid, but for a new, changed relationship, based on mutual interest and shared commitm ents. Public and private institutions of goodwill across the globe stand ready to play their full part. The British Government has committed itself to this initiative, and to persuade others in the international community to join in this endeavour.
Such a partnership would aim to prevent conflict, spread the benefits of technology and research, tackle corruption and maladministration where they exist, strengthen democracy and human rights, ensure African countries have a more effective voice in inter national institutions, reduce barriers to trade, encourage private investment and growth to reduce poverty, tackle environmental problems and increase development assistance and make it more effective.
In particular, the rich countries must do more to help Africa to tackle communicable diseases which ravage the continent, including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. We must also find ways to close the digital divide so Africa can share the benefits of t he revolution in information and communications technology. And we must go further in ensuring reforms to the world trade system to give Africans more access to world markets, so that they can make a living in the world economy.
Our joint commitment to this partnership is inspired by the realisation that African suffering diminishes all of humanity. Inversely, an Africa that prospers will enhance the global polity and widen the horizons of opportunity for the private sector.
As such, industrialised countries, including Europe, have a strategic interest in helping Africa to make progress. Failure to act blemishes the world's future from the impact of: conflict and violence, refugees and migration, the threat of drugs and organi sed crime, the spread of disease and environmental degradation, or deforestation and pollution. In a globalising world, these issues affect us all. The longer they are left to fester, the greater will be their negative impact on the people of Europe and ot her parts of the developed world.
At the height of the struggle against apartheid, we dared to hope that South Africa could achieve a peaceful transition to a non-racial democracy. Having achieved that miraculous objective, we must again dare to hope that Africa can seize the opportunity t o build a new future of prosperity and renewal.
The beacons of brighter future are there across the continent, illuminating a new way. And so, we dare to hope for Africa's children. And we shall work together to turn our hopes into reality.