Africa: Issues and Opportunities

The World Affairs Council of Austin is pleased to host this special conversation with the Honorable Humberto Hernández Haddad, Consul General of Mexico in Austin. Event hosted in collaboration with the Austin Saltillo Sister Cities Association.

The continent of Africa comprises 54 vibrant, geographically and culturally diverse countries with over 2,000 languages and 1.5 billion people. By 2050, one in every four humans will be African. What will its global role as a region and even individual countries be in the 21st century? How will climate change issues with the resulting drought and famine, warfare, and exploitation of geographical resources play out in the following decades? While the Western media tends to focus on the region's negative aspects, opportunities are associated with a thriving economy in certain countries and territories. It is a continent of remarkable contrast and one we should know.

Larry Andre is a retired Ambassador with a 38-year career in global public affairs. He was our ambassador to Somalia, Djibouti, Mauritania, and numerous other State Department postings throughout Africa. Former Ambassador Andre lectures on Contemporary African Policy Issues at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas.

Host or Publisher World Affairs Council of Austin