[/media-credit] AB/InBev
This week’s most important headlines out of and about Africa.
As the global consumption of beer increases, production and sales from Africa see growth, and the U.S. Council of Foreign Relations writes about entrenched African leadership.
Africa Projected to Beat North America in Beer Sales by 2040
In the last several years there has been much talk about “Africa Rising” especially as it relates to business and investment in the African continent. While there is a slump in the prices of oil and commodities which fueled the economies of many countries, the trend is not dead just yet.
Even with the lack of infrastructure to do business and with political unrest in some places, the consumption of beer remains a constant that continues to generate a lot of buzz. AB-Inbev or Anheuser-Busch, the multinational brewery with divisions in Africa, remains upbeat about its beer production and sales in the African continent, according to this analysis by Ann Crotty.
Despite the recent slump in sales, production and sales of beer from the African continent is projected to surpass that of North America, according to this Business Day story.
In another story—Rachel Arthur with Beverage Daily wrote:
“The beer market in Africa is predicted to grow faster than any other region over the next five years, driven by a rising population, urbanization, and increased GDPs.”
Entrenched African Leadership remains a challenge, according to CFR’s Claire Felter
Much has been said and written about so-called sit-tight or entrenched African leaders who hang on to power even after their term of office expires. This analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) elucidates the issue even more. While pointing out many of the issues that result when leaders decide not to respect the terms of the constitution, and more than just pointing out the countries that have been victims of manipulation by their leaders, the resource point out examples where leaders have failed to extend their mandate.
But the trend of entrenched leadership in the continent may be changing. Felter writes:
“Citizens have often opposed constitutional coup attempts through protest, at times succesfully halting proposals. In 2012, large protests in Senegal led to an electoral defeat for Wade, who was running for a disputed third term. After weeks of demonstrations in October 2014, Burkinabe citizens stopped Blaise Compaore from repealing the constitutional provision on term limits and forced his resignation. Polling by Afrobarometer found that roughly 75 percent of citizens surveyed in thirty-four African countries between 2011 and 2013 believed leaders should be limited to two terms in office.”
