Sub-Saharan Africa was given extraordinary coverage in the American Press during President Clinton's recent visit. But critical links between democracy, development and the environment are not coming through in US policy toward Africa. Africa, more than any other continent, depends on natural resources for economic growth and social development.
Resources are also a source of considerable conflict.
As populations and private investments increase, Africa's resources, especially land and water, will become increasingly scarce, valuable and contested. Unless measures are taken to ensure sustainable resource use and social equity, resource-related civil unrest is likely to increase. A US policy which strengthens the civil society will support both sound environmental management and democratic governance. It puts food on their tables and provides money to send their children to school and purchase needed medicines. If effectively managed, Africa's resources, some of which are significantly underutilized, have the potential to generate even more wealth.