Africa needs both stability and growth, not one or the other.

Development experts on Africa have often wondered which is the best path for Africa to develop. To some, Africa needs high growth rates in order to lift the millions of Africans out of poverty. Those who support this view argue that Africa is the poorest continent in the world, and it must do everything in order to increase the growth rates to double digits. Some countries have adopted this model. Ethiopia and Rwanda easily come to mind. They are registering impressive growth rates, despite their governments being accused of repressing opposition voices. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been credited with helping Rwanda overcome the tragedy of the genocide, and helping make Rwanda become one of the best places to do business in Africa. In an interview with the Harvard Business Review in 2013, Mr. Kagame and strategy guru Michael Porter explain to Mr. Justin Fox of Harvard Business Review of the need to run Rwanda like a business.

On the other hand, there are countries which are more stable, but are still relatively poor. Tanzania easily comes to mind. It is one of the most stable democracies in Africa, and yet, it has so many people still in
poverty. Consequently, Kenya and Ivory Coast easily come to mind when one thinks of countries that were thought to be stable and prosperous collapsing in the wake of a disputed election. While both countries managed to recover after a mediation by the international community, the countries nevertheless lost a large percentage of their GDP as a result of the post election violence that followed the disputed elections in both countries.

Of exception are some few countries which have managed to combine both economic growth and stability. Countries such as Botswana and Mauritius easily come to mind. These countries have managed to leverage on their strengths and grow their economies, while at the same time managing to have stable institutions that are able to serve their citizens better. It would be important to note that countries that have combined both growth and stability are the countries that have managed to have a high standard of living.They are the countries African states should be emulating, and striving to become like them.