Question

Why does Africa seem to lag behind when other countries are successful

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#Economy

Answer 2

They have a more poor economy as well as a large population, and poor eduacational system.

Answer 3

Many countries are suffering from a wildly out of control AIDS epidemic.

Several countries suffer from entrenched graft, which makes normal enterprises almost impossible.

A few countries have taken away the productive farming system, and given small plots to native citizens, which cannot be economically worked without capital and the necessary intellecutal and transportation infrastructure.

In short, Government vision and leadership failing is the single biggest factor. After that, is is a myriad of challenges.

One last: Failure of the regional government organizations to get tough on corruption, despotism, tribal warfare, destruction of land, and military adventurism. Again, this falls in the category of lack of leadership.