Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised.
Mo IbrahimRead
What we need in Africa is balanced development. Economic success cannot be a replacement for human rights or participation or democracy... it doesn't work.
Interpretation
Balanced development in Africa must prioritize human rights and democracy alongside economic success.
In this quote, Mo Ibrahim emphasizes that mere economic growth in Africa is insufficient if it does not coincide with the promotion of human rights, democratic participation, and social equity. He argues that sustainable development must encompass a holistic approach that values the dignity and voices of individuals rather than focusing solely on financial metrics.
In practice
In a speech on international development, one might mention this quote to illustrate the importance of human rights in achieving economic goals.
Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised.
In the final analysis, finding a way to do clean business and not to pay bribes actually improves your bottom line.
A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development.
Experience shows that when political governance and economic management diverge, overall development becomes unsustainable.
There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we must face it.
If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.
To get back up to the shining world from there My guide and I went into that hidden tunnel, And Following its path, we took no care To rest, but climbed: he first, then I-so far, through a round aperture I saw appear Some of the beautiful things that Heaven bears, Where we came forth, and once more saw the stars.
Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.
Monarchy is an outrage which even the blind of an entire people cannot justify... all men hold from nature the secret mission to destroy wherever it my be found. No man can reign innocently. The folly is too evident. Every king is a rebel and a usurper. Do kings themselves treat otherwise those who seek to usurp their authority?
Each one of us, as long as life stirs is us, may play a part in extricating ourselves from the power system by asserting our primacy as people in quiet acts of mental or physical withdrawal-in gestures of non-conformity, in abstentions, restrictions, inhibitions, which will liberate us from the domination of the pentagon of power.
It is in life as it is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, and surely the fairer way is not much about.
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.