Without the rule of law, you don't end up with large scale factories. Corruption is kind of a sliding scale, but factory workers take infrastructure in a way that oil does not.
That said some African countries are actually doing rather well. Botswana has seen real economic growth ranking in the top in terms of GDP PPP, just ahead of China, and that's without oil.
PS: Africa's population density is also much lower due to war and corruption. Overall, it's 1.216 billion over 11.73 million mi² vs say 1.339 billion in India in 1.269 million mi² so about 10x the population density. China at 1.386 billion over 3.705 million mi² is again 5x Africa
That said some African countries are actually doing rather well. Botswana has seen real economic growth ranking in the top in terms of GDP PPP, just ahead of China, and that's without oil.
PS: Africa's population density is also much lower due to war and corruption. Overall, it's 1.216 billion over 11.73 million mi² vs say 1.339 billion in India in 1.269 million mi² so about 10x the population density. China at 1.386 billion over 3.705 million mi² is again 5x Africa