Vast and varied, Africa is a fascinating place. Its contrasting landscapes, diverse ethnic groups, and its wealth of traditions and languages provide the backdrop to an epic past which is even more complex. The continent’s history is intertwined with that of faraway peoples and countries. So much so, in fact, that there is not one Africa, but many, a truth which only deepens its mystery. And yet this shared past and present, instead of leading to a deeper mutual understanding, seems to lead to a sort of persistent misunderstanding between Africans and other peoples. You only have to watch TV or read the western press to see that Africa’s portrait is often painted in the drabbest of colors. This catastrophist vision quite rightly annoys Africans, as the reality is quite different, although there are objective reasons to worry about a few vulnerable points.  

Africa is changing. In 2004, for the first time, the continent experienced overall economic growth of 5.2%, and experts claim that high growth rates are likely to be maintained throughout 2005 and 2006. So Africans have every reason to be proud, just as their partners have every reason to rejoice at their recovery. Such growth will allow them to take part more effectively in international exchanges, and thus to become part of the global village. Without lapsing into mindless optimism, one can at least take a look at the reasons to hope for a better future, as we invite you to do in this issue of Energies.
In a long-term partnership, you gain a fairer view of those closest to you: those who lie at the focus of your activities rather than on the margins. Total has now been working in Africa for more than seventy years, not only in exploration and production, oil and gas, but also in refining and distribution.

 

It has been a faithful and true companion through thick and thin. This faith has now been rewarded: already firmly rooted in Africa, the Group is strengthening its positions even further, not only in the Gulf of Guinea, but also through the recent acquisition of a competitor’s distribution subsidiaries in fourteen different countries. A faith which is constantly renewed; so much so, in fact, that Africa is becoming Total’s main field of operations. In this situation, how could the Group fail to invest more in the construction of Africa’s future?

The editorial team