The release of the Africa Commission report today is an important landmark in the battle to help Africa realise its potential and finally hold its own as an equal partner in the world. It is a significant advance on all the work that has been done, especially since the 1980s, to support development on the African continent.

The report from the international body established by Tony Blair, the prime minister, to promote development on the continent is, of course, not the first such initiative. There have been many other reports, many other plans, many other programmes, all seeking to turn Africa round and end the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. Some might even say, given the less than impressive results of past efforts, that this is one report too many. Africa has been too long in the headlines for bad news and "compassion fatigue" is widespread.