Africa continues to surprise, frustrate, enrage and delight all who live on its ancient soil and watch the continent from a distance.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the successful staging of the FIFA World Cup. Despite a slow start in making ready the infrastructure, South Africa pulled this one out of the hat, leaving many naysayers to eat humble pie. The world's greatest sporting spectacle left Africa and the world impressed. The much hyped about security problems never materialized and football fans enjoyed watching the top players battle for supremacy. No African team made it to the finals. Yet the euphoria will last a lifetime. Talk of South Africa's state-of-the-art football stadiums becoming the proverbial white elephants may be premature. Time will tell.

From footballing glory to the lows of bombings in Kampala in July by the cowardly Somali-based militant group al-Shabab. Scores were killed – yet in a powerful display of solidarity, African leaders opted to still gather in Kampala for the 15th AU Summit. This brave stance did much for continental unity at a time it was needed most.

Other signs of positive energy that permeated across the continent were the multi-elections held in 2010. Countries like Ivory Coast, Guinea, Burundi, Rwanda, Mauritania, Somaliland, Togo, Tanzania, and Guinea all negotiated their way through relatively peaceful elections ushering in what is hopefully a new approach to the electoral system in Africa. The era of dictators rigging elections to remain in power for life and undemocratically installed governments needs to be given the boot. The AU should use the electoral momentum gathered in 2010 and continue to push the process along in 2011. It cannot be energy wasted. In addition, political transitional moves this year in countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Niger and Madagascar are also motivational - and follow up is eagerly awaited in 2011.

The thorn in the flesh of Africa's image remains Somalia. Piracy continues unabated despite the growing armada of international warships. At this time six foreign hostages and more than 500 seamen are still being held captive aboard some 30 vessels. Still without an effective central authority after two decades and one of the world's most dangerous places, Somalia thumbs its nose at any attempts to stop the chaos on the world's most important sea route. Somalian pirates were responsible for 44 percent of all 289 piracy incidents on the world's seas in the first nine months of 2010, according to figures from the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB). But in 2010, views on how to deal with piracy vary. James Mugume, Permanent Secretary in Uganda's Foreign Affairs Ministry, believes developed nations are wasting their money on ineffective naval operations to tackle Somali piracy, instead of funding the African Union's force in Mogadishu (AMISOM). Ugandan troops make up the bulk of the 7,500-strong AMISOM peacekeeping force in Mogadishu. Effective troops on the ground are a preferable option as a solution to piracy than increased naval patrols it seems.

Economically Africa emerged generally less affected than many Western regions and nations. In 2010, the Africa Capacity Building Foundation reported that 27 African economies were able to implement 49 regulatory reforms to improve their business environment between June 2009 and June 2010. Meanwhile Rwanda, Cape Verde and Zambia were rated among the top 10 countries in the world where it was easy to do business in 2010. Historically 17 African nations celebrated 50 years of independence from colonial rule, and it was a year to reflect on where the continent had come from, and how those shackles from the past may still seem to manifest in the continent's conflicts, droughts and health challenges. It is patently obvious that there is much that has been achieved in Africa and a renewed willingness to approach issues of concern with a united voice.

On a lighter note the world was introduced to the vuvuzela at the World Cup. The unending neurosis-inducing trumpeting of the plastic horn was scorned by many and loved many more. Perhaps it will be the lingering sound of Africa blowing its own trumpet for achievements reached that will be the enduring legacy of 2010.

The Editor