Development projects are hi-jacked by rebels, or over-run by artisanal miners. Operating mines get expropriated by governments that can't resist the temptation to raid a foreign company's coffers. And African miners frequently see their profits reduced by corrupt officials intent on re-negotiating royalty contracts. 

All of these things are true, yet in the long run, Africa cannot be ignored. The hammer-shaped continent is expected to drive global growth over the next several decades, as populations there climb, but dwindle elsewhere.

"About half of the world's fastest-growing economies will be located on the continent, with 20 economies expanding at an average rate of 5% or higher over the next five years, faster than the 3.6% rate for the global economy," Brahima Coulibaly, director of Brookings' Africa Growth Initiative, wrote in its 2019 Foresight Africa report.