Ah hello, im hasnt seeka in doha. The top stories on al jazeera turkeys president , wretched tie by to one is at the sight of a deadly coal mine explosion. At least 40 people were killed when it happened on friday night. More than 100. 00 minus were under ground. One person is still trapped. Early, early one visited survivors at a local hospital. Could my dad james if we have taken out 40 minus 40 mortars from the mind and transfer them to hospitals, we have 11 people injured currently in hospital, 6 of them had been transferred to istanbul, cam, and secure a City Hospital with Health Ministry ambulances, all 3 people are being treated at bought in State Hospital and to being treated in a private hospital, one of whom has already been discharged. 58 of the 110 miners were rescued. Some of them exited the mind by their own means and the rest. As a result of, if its of our teens, we have an uncertainty about one of the minus sam casala has more from a mushroom. At 1st we heard from the officials that this was a, this was a fire them a fire cold by coal gas, which is called a method. So according to them, a transformer exploded and then its got because of the method is called coal gas. Its got on fire, a partial fire in the 300 meters, depth gallery of the coal mine. After that the over so sub, this was an initial finding, but an investigation has been launched by the prosecutor to find out the real cause of this explosion. But of course, this is also very controversial, the mind experts that we have been speaking through and who have been speaking on media are telling us if theres a fired them, it means that the oxygen level in the gallery has been down to from 4 to 18 percent, which is very low and, and thats look at that look and might be a question here. So were waiting for the officials to answer these questions and investigation. But coming back to the face, the record in the coal mines, and especially in coal mining at the safe, the record is not very good. As many of the people who remember back in 2014, there was another explosion, or the you case new chancellor says he didnt vote for less trust but supports her economic plans. Jeremy had started on friday after quasi quiting was sac. Youd only been in the job for 6 weeks announcing a mini budget that sold a pound drop to record lows. Andrew simmons has more from london, is the price hes been pressured on what he thinks of his new boss. That sir, really the main issue less trust in a desperately a difficult situation. Now, our question marks over whether she could go in the coming days. He has stayed around that sir a quite diplomatically and basically said she needs time. Or he says that the true test of all of their policies will come up probably in 2024 when theres a scheduled general election or some people are saying, particularly the labor party and opposition. The should be an election right now, or the opposition and National Salvation front into nidia is protesting against the deteriorating political and Economic Conditions there. Ah, there together in the center of the capital, soon as their leaders of called on him to reject. Next years major stood in elections. Officials in nigeria say theyre struggling to get food and fuel to areas affected by the worst floods in a decade or the 500 people have died. And about 90000. 00 homes are under water. The 1st group of russian soldiers have arrived in belarus, their convoy expected to team up with bell russian soldiers. Last monday, the president of belarus claimed ukraine was plotting to attack his country. Russian forces upon the number of towns that ukrainian soldiers seized in fair. Some kiva believes the attacks are not aimed at advancing in hungry. Thousands of students and parents have rallied in support. A striking teachers they want higher wages and a calling for civil disobedience. Those are the headlines were back with more after the bottom line. I hi, im Steve Clements and i have a question. How does the United States get africa so wrong . And why are other powers like china and russia and turkey making more headway on the continent . Lets get to the bottom line. Ah, no one can blame africans for assuming that the rest of the world has very little interest in their continent, except maybe for extracting natural resources, like gold and oil, or buying weapons and counterterrorism. Former us president George W Bush famously referred to it as a nation instead of a continent with 54. 00 very diverse countries, each with its own unique interest in history. President trump had awful things to say about africa, and were not going to repeat them here. The west simply hasnt updated its views on africa for centuries. Either its a place for global competition between the great powers or its in need of christian evangelism or it needs help with food and medicine. There is an enormous gap between the realities of africa, dynamism and its diversity. Its entrepreneurship that make the nations of africa. Many of them, some of the most fascinating places in the world. So as the United States missing out on the reality of africa today, whos getting it right and whos filling that vacuum . Today, were talking with the knob whose months senior fellow and director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for international peace. And previously at the world bank and you can either go k, a veteran journalist whos been covering innovation in africa for a long time for reuters courts and more recently semaphores. Where he is the africa editor, and im also editor at large, so hes a colleague, st. Up. Let me start with you and just ask how outdated is americas conception and engagement with africa as a continent . The perceptions of african d u. S. Very much outdated and i would say that they are stuck in the 20th century for the most part. You find this across various levels of american society. So overall, africa is seen as a humanitarian case rocked by conflict by corruption, by terrorism and in need of aid. As you mentioned in your introduction, all of these things are true. The problem is that they are incomplete. They present an incomplete picture of where african countries are today. Sol, within the american government, things are starting to shift. But overall africa is seen as the humanitarian but quarter. That is not central to us strategic priorities. As you have in the case of europe, we can see with one ukraine, all of the billions of dollars, the ukraine and even even even other European Countries have received or the case of parts of asia. So africa is not seen as a as corte strategic parties. Prison biden has lots of africa since he a zoomed off is over a year ago, although he has visited europe his to the middle east with for the trip to saudi arabia. Right. President trump never visited africa, im called africa use very colorful language to describe africa. I would just say he used abhorrent language, Foreign Language absolutely. At the level of economic engagement, investments, and trade. Were also seeing that the numbers are really decline in precipitously take trade. For example. You trade between the United States and african countries has actually declined from around 160000000000. 00 in 2008 to just around 64000000000. 00 today. And most of that is actually when you look aggregated, its mostly involves oil and gas, extractive industries. Its not really trade in substantial things that can really transform our for going economies. I like what you have in china with the case of china. So trade between china and african countries reached a historic high of over 250000000000 dollars and 2021 last year. And then finally, all of this is tied up with i would say media narrative on africa in the United States, which are still very much dated. Again, this perception that africa struck by conflict. You know, its the humanitarian crises, all of those things. And unfortunately, i think they affect how ordinary american c africa. You have a lot of reluctance for many people to engage with a part of the world that they feel is very, very problematic. But when we come to the issues youre talking about, you know, africa and what is happening there. I think part of the question is, why are china turkey even russia getting that story and americans are not to your points about dynamism. It is also the place with the worlds youngest population, and you know, its often even that sometimes its portrayed as a, as a problem as a, as a disadvantage. But actually, the world will be relying on africa workers in the next 30 to 40 years, because it is the only continent actually producing people who will be the future of humanity, really, terms of, of Young Workers. But also, if you look at it today, theres a fast growing, fostering tech helps across the continent. Which of the, you know, some of the one place in the, in the world where the, the slow down in tech investment hasnt, hasnt happened. More companies are coming out of there, and often even that story is told is African Companies doing stuff for african people. But actually, increasingly because the same issue about Young Workers and where talent is what the internet has done, this is opened up the well. So even the young tech workers are beginning to be the tech welfare for Massive Companies like google and microsoft are on the continent. Is, you know, if i were kind of look at the kind of a ingredients, if i wanted to kind of recreate what happened with, say, the asian tigers, the tire economies that, that grew so quickly and fast part of it is having a big population part of it is having Human Capital that there youve got 1200000000 people. As ive learned from your article, i should tell you, but you can read saying i was working Foreign Affairs recently how america can foster and african boom, but you document and here that here youve got to 1200000000 people, greater greater investment in Human Capital a very young audience, tomorrows future global middle class, a big chunk of it will be in africa. And so i guess my question is what needs to happen by way of the social contract in some side is some of these african nations to fuel some of what you think it was just referring to the economic dynamism and you know, is there a space for someone like america to be part of it, and i guess might, it might part of does it matter if were part of it . Yes, a very, very crucial questions. I think im going to build on what you said about africa population and also i guess africa fundamentals, those fundamentals, whether its the demographics, whether its the economic structure of africa, countries, they present both opportunities and challenges. Unfortunately, the narrative today over emphasize on the challenges, right . So yes, this conflict us as violence in certain parts of the continent. But actually when you look at certain analyses that have been done by what its entities like statistics and all those the worlds most violent cities, the top 10 only one is in africa. Cape town, all of the other cities are in latin america in brazil, and mexico, etc, etc. Right . So its just that the challenges in africa are over emphasized. And the fundamentals to day present opportunities and what are those opportunities we, lets dig demographics, for example. The continent has the walls Fastest Growing population, and its also the worlds youngest median age in africa today is around 19 compared to around 13, the middle east. And in south asia, in asia, compared to around 38 in the u. S. And in china, and also very important compared to, i think, 4445 in europe. So africa is a young continent and its growing. Its going to be the continent with the worlds future labor force. So already, you know, if you want to think labor force and future buyers, future future buyers, future consumers. And weve seen already, entities from china, have made a lot of headway on this front because weve seen that potential. So mobile phone Companies Like trying to see and became Global Market need us today because of the investments in africa. Whereas companies from other parts of the world in the early thousands felt that africa were to port afford mobile phones and their examples like that across the board. So the challenges today when you look at it and you invest there and you create opportunities for all these young people, become opportunities for companies in the future. Right . So i think its a matter of a mindset shift. And then to the last part of the question, is there a rule for the u. S. There is, of course, a huge role for the us to play. You look at the competitive advantage of the us, the way i would frame it anyways, in terms of private capital. This is the Worlds Largest markets economy. Africa countries need investments, right . Its actually a debt of investments, especially around infrastructure in the early 2, thousands that made a lot of african countries to, to china. Because they were not getting those vestments from was some bilateral lenders, or even from the world bank and other multilateral lenders. They tend to china, those investment needs still there. The content needs about a 150000000000. 00 every year for infrastructure investments. The continent again, needs that are on 50000000. 00 for climate adaptation. Right . To be able to invest in, you know, climate resistant, agriculture, crops, buildings, bridges, etc. Those are all things. So the u. S. Can help with digital technologies. You know, we have silicon valley, a Companies Want to expand to new markets today and in the future. Africa is the play, so there are so many examples like these that i can bring that theres so much that can be done. The u. S. Has a rule to play, but the mindset has to shift to see africa, not just as a continent of problems, but a continent where when you think innovatively of addressing those problems, you come up with solutions that work for africans. But that also work for the investor and the partner country. Right. Well, let me ask you, you know, their Companies Like qualcomm and microsoft and mastercard, that i happen to personally know are investing and building teams to approach the Africa Market much more earnestly and to invite just to kind of look at that going on. Im just interested, you know, were still, we havent talked many about this sort of Member States, but you know, youre going to be at some of 4 folks in fall. Youre african newsletter by the way, but youre going to be a symbol for writing about nations and summers and some of the economic dynamism. I just be interested just top of mind. You know, what are some of the stories that you think are worthy worthy of writing . In specific countries, i think very much about i have a big biased towards Tech Innovation and the fold it and get in touch with something that didnt touch on the about the way. Because of a lack of is traditional legacy of a lack of infrastructure and various challenges. You see some of the most Creative Solutions to problems on the continent. And what were finding more or more is the story, the i, the stories im looking at. All stories about African Companies solving problems at home, but then taking, taking those solutions to other parts of the world. Right. Go, go into life america. I couple of companies that i know, but, you know, obviously we want to break excuses on this as you know, steve, but then there are couple of companies that are going to be launching in in brazil that have started out in canyon niger. And were going to see that kind of thing happening more often. Were also going to see more. The story has obviously been a lot about china coming into to africa to invest. But increasingly, were going to have more stories about japan and turkey and all sorts of other fairly wealthy countries that are not traditional western countries or china who all will also see the opportunity of both investing in being a supplier partner. But also the Market Opportunity as well on the stand in this you know, this, this, this 1200000000 people or even more. Busy can, can be an incredibly promising market. So i think, i think that were going to see a lot of that. Then let me ask you a question and i dont know if i get this right, but im going to try. I think theres also a sense that African Leadership does want input from various places once investment. But i think part of the social contract or the expectation is that African Matters in africa. Leaders should also care about other things in the world that there are public goods problems around the world, whether its climate, whether its transnational crime, whether its, you know, any number of other issues right now. The invasion of ukraine by russia, and when president lensky was going to speak to 54 invited leaders from africa for leaders showed up. I guess my question to you is, should we have greater expectations as we look at what the United States is not getting right in this, which i want to get at. But are they in terms of African Leadership not stepping up to some of the big global challenges to show that theyre connected to things beyond app or is that a part of going up the ladder if you will, of both development and international respect . So absolutely. You know, african countries need to step up a bit more. I would say that would need to step up more internally and address certain governance challenges that are hobbling the large economies the large countries of the continent. Do you think about nigeria, the democratic republic . Of course, when you mentioned governance, are you really st corruption . So its not just corruption. Corruption is one aspect of it, but we cannot reduce the entirety of the complexity of governance to just corruption. Its really around delivering public services, public goods, increase the standards of living, increase in prosperity, stability address, and in the qualities. Given people a social inclusion and fairness, all of those things they need to be address, especially in the large economies. And in a way that is in the 1st, thats why theyre not really punching above their weight in many respects. So, you know, absolutely, and that responsibility lies with african countries individually, but also collectively. And were starting to see progress on that front. They came together, the 55. 00 countries of the African Union to put for the vision of integrated continent through the africa, continental free trade area, which is the worlds one of the Worlds Largest retreat areas. Theres an agenda 2063 to industrialize, and transform the continent. Havent said that though, and that. And that came into force last year, right . The africa continental. Free trader, i think about a year ago. Right . Yes. So, but hadnt said that they know and identified the responsibilities of african countries, i think, a global level. Its also the fact that theres, theres a lack of representation, equitable representation and multilateral for us. Where in the case of the United Nations of the United Nations security council, the permanent membership, you have 5 countries. There, the snow african country. We have a country that is a member of the un security council. Im not going to mention it. It has a population of 60000000, but the african continent, whether its niger with 200000000 people, or if youre p o is close to over 100000000 people or the d r c. Theres no representation of the african continent. A toll. Theres no representation, even of india, which has 1500000000 people. So our Global Governance institutions are also not very equitable in terms of our presentation. If we want african countries to step up, they need to be at the table when it comes to the g 20. There are 19 Member States of the g 20, as well as the European Union. The European Union has 27 countries and a population of 450000000 people. Why is the African Union with 55 countries and a population of close 1500000000 people . Not a member of the g 20. So if we want african countries to step about, i think they should step up on globe issues. They should be given a seat at the table of decision making. And it goes like that across the board. You know, the membership and the shell hold in on the vote in the world bank and the i m f. The allocation of special doing right across the board. You find that african countries sometimes are completely excluded. So for one them to step up to the plate on decision making, they need to be given a seat at the table. Thats fascinating against you. And i have talked about the African Leaders summit, which is going to take place in washington, d. C. In december of 2022 and in that summit im interested in the yank out of ok analysis of, you know, to get to some of the points that ive just mentioned, which is to measure whether any successful structural shift occurred, you know, is it greater representation or at least american support for greater african representation in some of these international institutions. What would you be saying this was either a failure or this was a success . You know, after that some it occurs . Well, i think what wed be looking out for is, you know, how, how, how seriously did the u. S. The vitamin ministration take this event, who just something that they felt they had to do . Was it just a saw the convenience of events before by just turns out, because to the point about biting, never actually going to the african continent, the only sending out secretary blank and kind of one of the mission that what people want to hear, what those leaders want to hear is some serious commitment from the u. S. Government towards african countries to that points about what sort of investment are you actually going to make . Or you just, are you just that, you know, doing the usual sort of ticking boxes and making sure youll see for folks opportunities. Well actually we actually could get anything of substance in terms of key decisions. The key investments, you know, every, every, every i dont know was every to every 3 years, the chinese up the, the focus conference with, with, with African Leaders. And it goes back and forth between beijing and an african city. And there are actual substances, issues of substances, sort of elements that come out of those, of those meetings every 2 or 3 years. This, this needs to happen with, with the biden and destruction all, all the story with the u. S. Government with any u. S. Government, it needs to be a regular, a normalized sort of events rather than kind of happens this time and then you dont hear about it, but other for 5 years and, and then sometimes another administration comes in as a complete change of sort of attitude towards africa that needs to be some consistently and they need to be able to come out with actual sort of, you know, frankly just call it what it is, but some dollars not, i dont know what they actually want to do with african continent. Im interested in, as you look at china and turkey and even russia, which you have written about who are now significant players, china, the biggest investor in africa today. What are they getting right, that america is not doing and needs to Pay Attention to . To begin with, i would say that i, i think the u. S. Is starting to recalibrate its thinking on africa, which is a good thing. And in fact, in august the year, a new strategy towards sub Saharan Africa was published by the biden administration. That and visions and new partnership between the United States and african countries. And that is a very good start, of course, that there was the us african liter summit, which is coming up in december this year, which is a follow on to the 1st summit that was done in 2014. Also, during the time of barack obama, all of those are good, but theyre not enough more needs to be done. So what is that more that needs to be done . And if we take the example or take a cue from what china turkey and others are doing so well, i think the 1st thing is with that mindset shift that this is a continental opportunities. You talk to whether its chinese entrepreneurs or even some governmental officials, they would tell you to us, we see many parts of africa as what china is to be 20 years ago. Like we see the potential here. We see that theres a future middle class and they need services, they need schools and hospitals, they need mobile phone, all of those things, and those create opportunity. So is a mindset shift that there are opportunities here as well as there are challenges. I would say that is really, really the main thing. Perhaps the 2nd thing is also that that africa is crucial to global issues. Not just in its, you know, africa as a silo, but africa, whatever happens that is going to affect and shape the rest of the world. You know, were already starting to see this, you mentioned the ukraine, right . The votes in the you and we can just ignore africa. What, what happens in africa matches for the rest of the world. And the u. S. Can actually support some africa initiatives from africa causes whether its, you know, join in the un security council. The permanent membership or the g 20, there are things that the u. S. Can use its influence. Its Convenient Power influence, particularly with the european allies to push those courses for africa, political economy, xena guzman and journalist get out of go. Okay, thank you so much for being with us today. So whats the bottom line from algeria t, as in bob way, folks in africa are busy building biotech hubs hosting Innovation Challenges and scaling their entrepreneurship across the continent. America still there, but faintly, most of the fresh ink on the deals, it will bring Major Economic development, or either chinese or russian or turkish. America still looks at the continent to archaic lenses, a poor war torn place, dependent on outsiders and in need of saving by the west, and more recently as a base for special forces and counter terrorism. Sure, there are real hot spots, but washington is generally losing out. Countries that have updated their worldview on africa are making partnerships and planting the seeds for the future. And if washington doesnt do the same, its going to miss the proverbial african boat. And thats the bottom line. Ah ah, ah, ah ah ah, once ccd wireless now posted to the village, is it new . Okay, ill just follow the personal journey of sweet women teachers. Daily struggles with isolation and battles with physical, how chin sacrificing that family likes to the education of future generations. Women in the weight on al jazeera oh