While there has been pain, particularly in health care, many African nations displayed remarkable resilience. It’s hard to grasp in much of the developed world, where high taxes stymie growth, but too many African nations struggle to collect money to fund basic services. Regional free trade zones have been a boon for North America and Europe, but African nations have struggled to do business with their neighbors. Ratifying a continental free trade deal would make the continent more competitive globally while helping Africans prosper more than donor schemes ever could. In fact, foreign aid is no longer the continent’s main source of capital.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 04, 2026 22:01 UTC