African country (not Rwanda) in debt? Tell creditor to talk to AU
AU’s 55 leaders need not fear assassination if they form a united front to handle debt, but not a refusal to pay a la Sankara. And neither Rwanda, nor Botswana refuse to pay, they just manage well. ILLUSTRATION | JOSEPH NYAGAH | NMG
The week to review Rwanda three decades after genocide showed impressive development indicators which make even more sense if compared with other African countries. Rwanda, for example, is among Africa’s healthiest three, others being Mauritius and Seychelles.
While Rwanda is small at 26,338sq kms, a population of 14 million and purchasing power parity per capita GDP of $2,500, the other two are tiny but rich, with Mauritius at 2,040sq kms, a population of 1.2 million and GDP/capita PPP of $23,000; and Seychelles at 455sq kms, 120,000 people and GDP/capita PPP of $30,000 – the highest in Africa. So is smaller better?
