Mixed fortunes blur idea of Africa's collective 'rising'

Falling commodity prices, political upheaval and simmering conflict are exposing the differing fortunes of Africa's economies, undermining the idea that the continent of a billion people is on one collective ascent.

Sub-Saharan Africa has achieved annual growth of more than 5 percent over the last decade, and foreign investment has more than quadrupled over the same period, feeding the popular catch phrase that Africa is 'rising'.