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Commentary

43 of the 86 countries that are defined as low-income and food-deficient are in Africa.

Almost 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa (approximately 50% of the total population
of 1.2 billion) have no mains electricity.

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There is political instability in Africa, but there are reasons for that
LLDC & Fragile States Index (FSI)
Using the UK (FSI score = c 38) and the USA (FSI score = 38) as a reference point

37 of Africa’s 54 countries have a FSI score twice as high as that of the UK or the USA

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...analysis of the data is consistent with historic accounts suggesting that the slave
trades impeded the formation of broader ethnic groups, leading to ethnic

fractionalisation,* and that the slave trades resulted in a weakening and
underdevelopment of political structures.

The countries from which the largest numbers of slaves were taken are also the areas

that had the most underdeveloped political structures at the end of the 19th century, and
they are also the areas that are the most ethnically fragmented today.

"The Historical Origins of Africa's Underdevelopment."
Nathan Nunn
(* Author : The emphasis is mine)

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Income inequality is connected to political instability
Income inequality has a causal link to political instability. Political instability acts against
development. Income inequality has been linked to the prevalence of military coups.

There is research that suggests that least developed countries with high income

inequality invest more in their military (ie to counter civil unrest). But this puts the military in the
driving seat and increases the potential for military coups.

In terms of progress in economic development, political stability is a more important
factor than democracy.:
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A dash for freedom, a rush to judgment
There are times when m’zungu show a complete lack of understanding what progress in a
least developed country might mean.