PDF (2.0 MB)

Strengtheningpeace andsecurity forthe success ofAfrica’sdevelopmentchallengesAddis Ababa, Ethiopia25 January 2007African economies continue to sustain the growth momentum,which has built up in recent years. In 2006, the overall real grossdomestic product (GDP) growth rate accelerated from 5.2 per centrecorded in 2005 to 5.7 per cent. This momentum continues to beunderpinned by two main factors: the improvement in macroeconomicmanagement in many countries; and the strong global demandfor key African export commodities, which resulted in highexport prices, especially for crude oil, metals and minerals. It is expectedthat growth in 2007 will continue on this same path to reacharound 5.8 per cent.However, despite this trend in economic growth, evidence showsthat Africa is unlikely to meet the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) by 2015 unless new and vigorous approaches are adopted.The challenges that Africa faces are many and often vary from countryto country. However, in the context of globalisation, there is nodoubt that we all must tackle the issues of peace and security; trade;particularly the promotion of intra-Africa trade; the rational and fairutilisation of Africa’s natural resources; the provision of an adequateinfrastructure to enable growth; and the empowerment of womenand youth so that we can fully utilise the wealth of the talent thatabounds in the continent. This is why the UN family is fully commit-Integrating Africa5