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Conference on Africa’s Milestone: Fifty Years of Independence and Development
Conference Date: December 9-10, 2010
Institute of African Studies, Rabat, Morocco
The 50th anniversary of the independence of African states offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the achievements of African countries as regards socio-economic development and to lead a serious reflection on future prospects.
Having crossed the threshold of a billion inhabitants, Africa must face formidable challenges. It contains the largest number of LDCs, the greatest proportion of inhabitants living below the extreme poverty line and the largest population suffering from several socio-economic problems and space imbalances. If the current trends are not reversed, the majority of the countries of sub-Saharan Africa will not be able to achieve the millennium development goals.
In spite of this bleak picture, remarkable progress has been made by African countries. Growth rates of the African economies have shown a vigorous pace during the last decade, the indicators of education and health have improved significantly, agricultural production has reached very high levels, and the number of conflicts which undermined development in several countries have been reduced or were completely resolved. Moreover, the wind of democracy which has been blowing on Africa since the 1990s has helped establish and consolidate good governance in the great majority of African countries. Constant progress of the African Peer Review Mechanism (resulting from the NEPAD) testifies to the commitment of African leaders for democracy.
The reflection on the future of Africa must be founded on an objective and rigorous examination of the results of fifty years of independence, of the challenges which still need to be met, and of the opportunities which arise in the short, medium and long term. The object of the conference is to make it possible for Africans to do this essential work of taking stock, and to provide the foundations for the development of coherent strategies for a better future.
Conference Secretariat:
Email: afriquepossible@yahoo.fr
Institute of African Studies, Rabat, Morocco
& Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane
Contact person: Khadija Boutkhil
Tel. : 05 37 77 12 74
Fax. : 05 37 77 84 25
E.mail: k_boutkhili@hotmail.com
Posted: April 19, 2010
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