Chinatown, Africa

The West is behind the curve relative to African investment. China is decades ahead and reaps massive benefits. As in this Current.tv video, Angola gets new and improved infrastructure: roads, railways, hospitals, universities and schools, new businesses and is the fastest growing economy on the Continent.

Unfortunately Chinese investment does nothing for Angolan unemployment and promotes widespread corruption. China doesn’t tie investments to human rights, economic stability, good governance or democratic ideals. Its investments target the vast Angolan oil and iron ore resources it needs for now and the future. Moreover, this is happening in Sudan (oil), the Democratic Republic of Congo (copper, cobalt, coltan), Zambia (copper), Mozambique (wood), Equatorial Guinea (oil) and elsewhere.

The new Administration in Washington has the daunting task of finding ways to strengthen its ties to Africa humanely and quickly, before its too late. What is clear is that the old, Western ways of doing business there no longer matter.