Conclusion

Although some global trends and events, such as covid-19, have negatively impacted Africa in the past year, as well as other parts of the world, we can still see economic growth averaging around 2.4%, with East Africa remaining the fastest growing region in Africa at 5%. According to various indicators, and despite the huge disparities within the continent, Africa is succeeding in achieving economic growth, strengthening internal connectivity through the construction of roads, highways and railways, air links and regional associations. Regional economic integration is also one of the priorities of the AU and its aforementioned Agenda 2063.  Better infrastructure, more intensive industrialisation, together with the reduction of social inequalities, digitisation and the streamlining of agriculture, are tools that can help Africa to overcome various recurring problems, such as droughts, epidemics of various diseases (cholera, Ebola, etc.) or floods affecting the most vulnerable. Of course, the level of indebtedness will also matter, and this is most evident in relation to China, which is the largest investor in infrastructure projects in Africa.  Equally important for stability and economic development will be maintaining equitable access to water, which - as the diplomatic conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of the GERD shows - may be a problem with the rising demographic curve in most African countries.
The future of Africa is the development of health, education and infrastructure, as well as inclusive access, not only to education, but also in terms of the development of civil society towards greater participation of the young generation, who in many countries feel uprooted and without a chance of achieving better living conditions or social mobility. However, despite all the negative and pessimistic forecasts, Africa is also a continent of hope, development and perspective and, as we outlined in the introduction, a continent of the future, which is trying to respond to global trends and the opportunities offered by globalisation, including the aforementioned digitalisation.