Sub-Saharan Africa is on the verge of an energy boom. New discoveries off the East and West coasts have raised hopes of significant revenues that can accelerate poverty reduction and enhance Africas status as a destination for industrial investment. The question that African governments, citizens, and international partners confront is whether this time willor canbe different. Can the harsh lessons offered by Africas more established producers and the continents previous energy booms be learned?
Jennifer G. Cooke is director of the Africa Program at CSIS.
David L. Goldwyn is president of Goldwyn Global Strategies, LLC, and a senior associate with the Africa Program at CSIS.