Not a single one of the sub-Saharan countries in Africa are on course to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon. Kimoon called the lag a "development emergency."

Set in September of 2000, the eight MDGs are as follows: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal free primary education; gender equality and empowerment of women and reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. The UN had hoped the goals would be met by 2015.

Kimoon says that advances in specific goals in countries like Kenya and Ghana proves rapid achievement is possible, but stresses that increased foreign trade and investment are necessary for Africa's growth. Currently, the entire continent of Africa has a three percent share of the whole world's trading and investment. Unfortunately, poised to unravel the few but remarkable gains made over the last eight years is what Kimoon calls the "alarming" global food shortage, the scourge currently straining the good ol' US of A.

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