Europe did not "leave" Africa -- they were driven out by so-called liberation movements and anti-colonial agitation. Whether colonial rule was too long or too short, it ended because of pressure from the Left and the desire of Africans to take what the Europeans had built. Contrary to all promises and expectations -- except for the warnings of a few reviled ex-colonialists -- even the most fortunate African countries in terms of natural resources and benign colonial rule, such as Uganda, Rhodesia, and Kenya, all went downhill, persecuting and driving out their most productive citizens.
The European and American industry and educated middle class that you refer to were not created in place by force of nature but were the product of human effort. The problem with Africa is the Africans -- or more accurately, the behavior, culture, and beliefs of Africans. To progress, they have to embrace the beliefs and practices that led to Europe and America's development and rise -- but that is utterly contrary to the advice they usually get from the West and their own intellectuals.
Africa's best hope is not aid or leadership from its intellectuals or its rapacious political class. Rather, the hope of Africa is the strongly traditional and energetic brand of Christianity that has developed there and which, in several generations, may remake its peoples. Indeed, even before then, African Christianity seems likely to become a pillar of strength for traditional Christianity in the West. On the whole though, we are more likely to get a Black Pope before Africa rises from its self-forged and profitable misery./p>
I think that we are leading to the same place. I do not think that all the blame for Africa are at the feet of any one group. Africa without colonialism would not be better off today, they would still suffer from many of the same issues. However, the continent could have been better served by the Europe before they departed. I am not sure that any comparison can be made between what happened in the United States, as the majority of the population were European colonists who shared similar ideals, whether religious, economic, or social (a Catholic, or a Puritan shared in the belief of the divinity of Christ, but disagreed on forms of worship). Africa is an amalgam of various religions and is unfortunately becoming more under the heel of Islam. I agree that a common belief in Christianity would go a long ways to helping them solve some of their problems, but this will have to be a peaceful conversion not a mandated conversion.
I agree that the current political and intellectual class would be of little use to help Africa overcome its problems, as they are generally the cause of the current problems. When I wrote of an educated class, I was not referring to the intellectual elite, but a literate society. Someone who can read is far more difficult to oppress. I am not saying that it cannot be done (see the Warsaw Pack countries), but literacy can lead to critical thought, which can lead to much better things while ignorance brings only more ignorance. You are also right that Africa has to change Africa, but I am not sure that it can be done as Africa is currently composed. I still contend that this would be less difficult if the borders were redrawn to reflect the realities of the peoples of Africa, and not how they were determined in the Age of Discovery.
As for aid, I believe that as it is currently given, it is more of a hindrance to change than a catalyst to it. Most of the aid flows into the hands of those that wish to keep the status quo of ignorance and oppression. I had mentioned in a previous post that the debt that most countries of Africa currently have is a good thing, as it limits the amount of money that the tyrants can borrow to further oppress their people.
The word "leave" is not incorrect. Yes they were pushed out, but they still left. The United Kingdom was pushed out of India, but they had established a middle class, industry, and an educational system. India is not perfect, they certainly have many problems, but they are a much brighter picture than anything in India (yes, even than the former British colonies). If other countries had prepared their African colonies for even a little self-rule I believe that Africa's future would be more positive. But Germany, France, and Belgium never looked at Africa with the eye towards the "White Man's Burden", but simply prolonging the mercantile system.