Alassane D. Ouattara

African countries must choose between two paths of economic development, argues Alassane D. Ouattara in the following viewpoint. They could continue to be hampered by stagnant economies, corrupt governments, and ethnic conflict—or they could embrace market reforms, encourage domestic and foreign private investment, and become competing players in the global economy. Ouattara outlines economic and political reforms that he believes African governments must take to achieve the latter option. Ouattara served as prime minister of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), a nation on Africa’s west coast, from 1990 to 1993. In 1994 he became deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a specialized United Nations agency.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What economic advances have African nations made in recent years, according to...