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Major World powers are jostling for political and economic influence in Africa , but what is behind the renewed Interest on The Continent , and what African countries are doing? The BBC's Dickens Olewe reports.

In recent years, the Africans are used to see their leaders, collect air miles, while honor-invitations to participate in a number of Africa -themed summits around The World , often promoted as win-win partnerships.

Last year, Japan, Russia, and China hosted the African presidents and heads of government; last month, the 15 African heads of state and government attended the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, and invitations are already sent, for similar events are reportedly planned to be held in France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey this year.

A mix of The Continent 's rich natural resources, untapped Agricultural Land , the 54 votes in the UN, the growing threat of Islamist militancy, the economy, migration and the fear of, say, the racist, to its growing population, are among the questions behind this newly awakened Interest .

the Zambian economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo argues in her 2018 article with the title: Africa Threat.

"There has never been a greater need for a constructive international engagement on The Continent . Besides, The World could have wrote considerable economic rewards to reap from positive engagement," said Dr. Moyo.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said during a recent visit to the USA, Africa , "More Than just a continent, the production of security threats or unregulated migration to be included," but it offers investment opportunities around The World .

However, he warned of the frenzied competition between China, the USA, Russia, and other countries:

"I've noticed the conversations that are returned in the Western countries and their counterparts in Asia and the Middle East , the competition over Africa , in some cases,... which is like Africa for the recording. Now, I want you to not," Mr Kenyatta say, it added.

In 2013, African heads of state and government, under the African Union (AU) agreed on a proposal to tackle The Myriad of challenges The Continent is facing. The Plan was called Agenda 2063.

It contains a vision of the end of the wars on The Continent , the development of the infrastructure, and allow the freedom of movement on The Continent .

Another flagship project of the African Continental free trade area (AfCTA), The World 's largest free trade Pact in relation to the countries involved expected to improve, and increase trade among African Nations.

critics, however, say that AfCTA, which shall enter into force In July , a panacea and is facing major hurdles, especially the protectionism policy and the poor Transport Infrastructure in member States.

flagship projects in The Agenda 2063

source: Agenda 2063

But, the AU is fighting for the implementation of Agenda 2063, because the organization lacks the carrot-and-stick influence to corral member States to focus on the agreed plans, W the oil, Moore, a former minister of public works in Liberia, says.

He argues that many African countries increasingly debt-saddled and to pay with their resources from foreign loans, they were distracted from The Grand continental Plan .

He, that you should take advantage of increased Interest to find on The Continent , cost-effective ways of improving the Transport Infrastructure , especially roads, the economies to increase their people.

During The Agenda 2063 makes a great game of high-speed rail, according to the African Development Bank (ADB).

the poor condition of The Road infrastructure in the 49 countries in sub-Saharan African countries, resulted in the isolation of the people from basic education, health, services, trade hubs, and economic opportunities, says the ADB.

"Only 43% of the roads in Africa are paved and 30% of them are in one country: South Africa ", Mr Moore says currently a Senior Policy Fellow at The Center for Global Development in the United States.

"It is almost impossible to built a modern society, to build a modern economy without roads," Mr Moore says.

He is an example for 2014, the Ebola crisis in West Africa , which happens during the rainy season. "What began as a health crisis was, in fact, an infrastructure crisis," he says.

"Take The Blood sample from the patient to The Lab to have lapsed, because of how long it has lasted," he added.

Mr Moore says that research and investment in buildings, cobblestone roads that can withstand heavy rain would transform The Continent .

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The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) is also ambivalent, what The Agenda 2063 goals.

the billionaire Mo Ibrahim IIAG founder,

"It is not Well decorated, wonderful goals, if you don't measure you can. the African Union agenda has 255 goals, almost half of which are quantifiable," he adds.

Another handicap of several African countries, the lack of an effective bureaucracy is the work of the government, Dr. Ken Opalo from the Georgetown University told the BBC. Something, he says, can, democratic African countries learn from China.

"What makes China successful, is not an autocracy, it is bureaucratic efficiency. the capacity for the design and implementation of the policy of the government will not Fall In order, if you have free elections. It is, therefore, ridiculous to expect to be in the moment, to change the things added in countries such as South Sudan , the CAR, or even Malawi," Mr Opalo.

The AU, there are challenges to be overcome, and it plans to Roll Out a platform which will enable it to best the monitoring of the implementation of The Agenda 2063 goals, the organization, the Vice-Chairman Quartey Thomas Kwesi, said recently.

"We also look forward to criticism," he added.

Curious, Africa is The Most pressing issue, youth unemployment is not listed as one of the flagship initiatives of The Agenda aligned to the 2063 project, but according to AU officials, all of them are projects on the creation of a favourable environment for the creation of jobs.

Africa 's population by 2050, 2 double. 2 billion, according to projections by the population division of the United Nations, to put pressure on the governments to meaningful employment. to fight

a More troubling statistic is that while global poverty is falling, they are rising in Africa , according to The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The organization will be projects, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo home to 44% for the poorest people in The World in 30 years, if current trends continue.

in agriculture, Which is in most of the countries in Africa , The Best opportunity to lift millions out of poverty is largely unused and slows down by the lack of investment, Mr Opalo says.

Trapped in despair and hopelessness, which attracted many of the Young People in the cities.

"We now have a place without jobs, and instead of investing in production, we will see a lot of consumption cities to be built. They provide jobs, but rely on imports," Mr Opalo says.

It is a more multi-faceted challenge that The Continent has to deal.

Dr. Moyo asked provocative in its 2018-article: If The World never had to hear about Africa again, would anyone be interested?

The renewed scramble for Africa suggest that The Answer is Yes .

" Africa -commentator Howard French recently posted.

The Challenge for The African heads of state and government to fit heads say their rhetoric with achievable and measurable plans, Dr Opalo and Mr Moore.

they add that the leader should negotiate political concessions, to accept according to your priorities, short-term deals and transactions, which are often offered, in the now popular African-themed summits.

Source of news: bbc.com