EDITORIAL

from TAR116 Q3 2021 Full

July, August, September 2021

WHEN THE LEVERS STOP WORKING

Ignore that man behind the curtain! Sowent the Wizard of Oz’s desperate command when his pretence had finally been exposed. It’s come to be a metaphor for the inflated self-regard of politicians around the world. Like the Wizard, there comes a time when they pull levers and nothing happens. For many governments, that time is now.

The levers no longer work and the centre isn’t holding. It has taken the twin threats of a public health emergency and devastating economic inequities to make this picture plain to all. Some have retreated into nationalism; others into epochal pessimism. The latest report from the US National Intelligence Council, ‘Global Trends 2040’, describes the pandemic as ‘the most significant, singular global disruption since World War II’ in terms of its medical, political and security implications.

As people sense that governments are losing their grip, they are mobilising in new ways. That portends, according to the US report, ‘more political volatility, erosion of democracy and expanding roles for alternative providers of governance’. It all adds up to an era of heightened competition between systems of governance and a ‘growing mismatch between what publics need and expect and what governments can and will deliver’. Although these warnings are in the public domain, national leaders and international bureaucrats haven’t got the message.

Public health is an area where starting with the grassroots works so much better than top-down policies. Africa’s experience in dealing with epidemics, especially Ebola, river blindness and Guinea worm, shows the key importance of local initiative.

That works for prevention and sounding alarms, as well as organising treatment. Vital intelligence about health crises often comes from farmers in remote areas. It depends on trust. National and international resources are neededto manufacture vaccines and protective equipment, but they require well-informed and credible local groups to distribute them.

Such life lessons from the pandemic offer a counter to forecasts of ineluctable descent into authoritarianism or government breakdown. Parallels for education, economic and development policy are obvious. Our new digital networks are joining up grassroots organisations across the globe, sharing expertise and building solidarity. Sending resources to local initiatives, especially those run by women, creates more wealth, more jobs and spreads knowledge. Widely shared warnings of global food shortages should concentrate thinking and funds on the local.

None of this is to diminish the importance of getting international accords on corporate taxation, the global distribution of vaccines, or the transfer of allocations of the IMF’sreserve currency to developing economies. Those are necessary conditions for progress, but they are far from sufficient.

National governments have to ratchet down the hubris. Admitting the levers don’t work is a good first step. Devolving far more resources and power to the regions and the grassroots is the next stage.

#116 / July, August, September 2021

03 EDITORIAL 06 MAILBAG

08 OBITUARY / Béchir Ben Yahmed 10 COFFEE WITH THE AFRICA

REPORT / Salim Saleh 12 OPINION 15 Q3 / July, August, September 48 DRC FOCUS

President Tshisekedi has finally taken charge by sidelining former president Kabila. A look at his allies and his chances of succeeding with some of his key policies.

64 AFRICA’S TOP 500 COMPANIES

The Africa Report’s exclusive ranking of the continent’s largest companies in terms of revenue.

FEATURES 28 INTERVIEW / Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame

He talks about the country’s complicated relationship with France and neighbours in East and Central Africa. And he answers questions about freedom and the role of his family.

34 WIDE ANGLE / Sudan’s New Dawn

Diplomatic and debt-relief deals are creating new opportunities for the transitional government, which has tough challenges on the security and economic fronts.

40 WIDE ANGLE / Akufo-Addo’s second-term test

Political and economic obstacles stand in the way of the flagship policies of Ghana’s President, who was re-elected in December 2020.

92 NIGERIA/ FRANCE INSIGHT

French firms are betting on the huge market and partnering with Nigeria’s top business leaders.

128 ENERGY DOSSIER

The oil majors grapple with the energy transition on the continent.

136 AGRICULTURE DOSSIER

Tea, climate change, citrus and more.

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