A tragedy of far greater proportion than the fall of News International is unfolding on the continent. The East African food crisis is fast becoming the worst in 60 years. "We know from the data that we've been collecting" said Rajiv Shah, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), "that this is the worst drought in 60 years and it's going to have severe consequences. Eleven and a half million people are at real risk of malnutrition and famine already."
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These growth rates prove Cameron's assertion that this is "the moment for Africa". It has reached the tipping point where the cycle of restored growth could turn Africa into an equal player on the global stage. It is estimated that growth will halve the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day. This would make Africa an investment destination of choice not a mere repository of aid; a liability the West let alone the starving millions can no longer afford.
With 50 per cent of the world's uncultivated arable land and a disproportionate amount of its resources, Africa still only contributes only 2 per cent to global trade and barely trades between its own nations at all. Sudan and Ethiopia alone are the size of India, yet the population of the whole of Africa is smaller. The issues stretch back to an age when empires were built from plundering Africa: gold and other resources were stolen and people were enslaved. But the problem is historic not endemic. The Prime Minister is right to look for a solution - as it will benefit not only Africa but Britain, Africa's historic partner.
Britain has taken the lead in the development of Africa. Uniquely, the United Kingdom is on target to fulfil the promises made by the G8 to double its aid to developing nations. It has not tied aid to the benefit of its industry. But whilst safeguarding this honourable position, it is time to recognise that it has not worked effectively. The time has come to encourage our industries (once again) to work with Africa - but this time for the benefit of both.