Mobile phones could not work in Africa without prepaid because it's a cash society.

Everywhere in Africa, you see Indian, Chinese, Brazilian businesses. Other than Coca Cola and the oil companies, it is very rare to see American businesses.

Nobody can come and develop Africa on behalf of Africans.

We cannot expect loyalty to an unjust regime.

Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain vigilant and not get complacent.

There's no point in trying to hoard money after life, so better really to share with people.

Make as much money as you can, but can you please pay your taxes, because this is a major problem.

Many African people are smarter than me - kids who could have been better. I have no claim for genius.

Of course, Nelson Mandela, everybody knows Nelson Mandela. I mean, he's a great gift not only for Africa but for the whole world, actually. But do not expect everybody to be a Nelson Mandela.

The African Development Bank is one of the most aggressive advocates of regional integration.

Young people, all too often, find their interests overlooked and their voices ignored.

There is a crisis of leadership and governance in Africa, and we must face it.

Botswana had three successive good presidents who served their legal terms, who did well for their countries - three, not one.

I'm uncomfortable, frankly, with the hype about Africa. We went from one extreme... to, like, Africa now is the best thing after sliced bread.

Electoral turnout is falling among the young, and political apathy is on the rise.

The brain drain from Africa has been reversed.

Africa is rich, and why are we poor then if our continent is rich. It is not right.

Billions of dollars are thrown at African countries.

Experience shows that when political governance and economic management diverge, overall development becomes unsustainable.

I never set out really to build a financial empire or to be a wealthy man.

I left Sudan when I was 25 or 26 years old. If I had stayed, I would never have ended up being an entrepreneur. You can have the qualities, but if you don't have the environment, you just wither away. It's like a fish: take it out of water, it will not survive.

When you ask people what they think of Africa, they think of AIDS, genocide, disasters, famine.

I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything.

The problem is that many times people suspend their common sense because they get drowned in business models and Harvard business school teachings.

I think the Cold War was worse for Africa than colonialism.

After the sale of Celtel, I really wanted to give the money back, and I had a number of choices - to go and buy masses of blankets and baby milk or to go into Darfur or Congo. That would have been very nice actually, but it's just like an aspirin: it doesn't deal with the problem.

Educational opportunities have supported the rise of the African middle class, the professional cadre of young people who are now willing and able to contribute to Africa's future prosperity.

Africa was perceived - it still is to some extent - as a place which is very difficult to do business in. I don't share that view.

Before any investor goes into any country, he is looking for the exit door.

We measure everything - why not governance?

Nobody messes with China, nobody messes with the United States, or with Europe, because these are really big entities with a lot of clout and a lot of economic power. They have a place at the table.

While the Marshall Plan was important for Europe's recovery, Europe's prosperity was really built on economic integration and policy coherence.

Sudan cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history. The north and south will have to work together, but will they?

The Ibrahim Index is a tool to hold governments to account and frame the debate about how we are governed.

It was a no-brainer that the cellular route would be a great success in Africa.

If Sudan starts to crumble, the shock waves will spread.

Transfer pricing is causing huge problems in Africa.

A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development.

Business people get many undeserved prizes - golden parachutes and bonuses even when companies fail. I don't think people should get rewarded for screwing up.

Every man, woman and child knows about Mugabe, but people say, 'Mogae, who is that?'

More people smile at me now I'm richer.

Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its report, 'Now for the Long Term.'

Cape Verde produces good people.

Roads are not practical in Africa.

I ended up being a businessman unwittingly. I wanted to be an academic; I wanted to be like Einstein.

Nobody in Africa loves to be a beggar or a recipient of aid. Everywhere I go in Africa, people say, 'When are we going to stand up on our feet?'

Experience counts in government even more than in business.

Rwanda really did take very strong steps towards development. I mean, this place is unrecognizable. There's a very good management of economy and resources - it's a success story, and that's great.

Modern slavery is a hidden crime and notoriously difficult to measure.

All we hear about Africa in the West is Darfur, Zimbabwe, Congo, Somalia, as if that is all there is.