Africa 2

AFRICA. There are more than 50 independent countries in Africa and on the islands off its coasts. Together, they make up more than one third of the membership of the United Nations. In 1991 Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Boutros Boutros-Ghali became the first African and the first Arab to serve as secretary-general of the United Nations. After the conclusion of World War II, the African people gained their independence from European countries that had controlled most of …

…encouraged by the colonial powers. This was their only source of national income, and as a result they were highly exposed to the fluctuations of international prices for their products. Since independence, African governments have tried to diversify their exports so their income does not depend on just one item. They also have begun to sell their goods to more countries to avoid being dependent on only one foreign buyer. Senegal is an example of