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African leaders revel in largesse while people live in poverty (Corrupt ties to France explored)
The Telegraph (U.K.) ^
| July 16, 2008
| Henry Samuel
Posted on 07/16/2008 1:33:31 PM PDT by Stoat
Private jets, Bugatti cars, a shark-filled aquarium and enough bank accounts to paper the new luxury yacht - the extraordinary capacity of some African leaders and their families for apparent self-enrichment has been laid bare in a French lawsuit over allegedly stolen state money.
Following an inquiry last year by the French fraud body OCRGDF, an anti-corruption campaign group has accused a string of African politicians of plundering vast sums from the often struggling economies of their countries.
(edit)
The richest parts of France are teeming with homes, cars, boats and other expensive baubles belonging - in practice, at least - to tropical Africa's political elite.
(edit)
"There is still resistance in Europe to pursuing African clans (through the courts)", said William Bourdon, a lawyer from an international network of legal experts called Sherpa. "But one day their estate will have to be returned to African citizens," he told Libération newspaper.
Since the time of Charles de Gaulle, the "African cell" of the Elysée has kept close, often shadowy ties with Francophone African leaders known as "la FrançAfrique".
Personal ties between French and African leaders bound Paris to friendly regimes which were given protection in exchange for political allegiance, votes at the United Nations and deals with French firms that were lucrative for all sides.
(edit)
Before his election, President Nicolas Sarkozy indicated he wanted to distance himself from long-time dictators like Mr Bongo, calling for a "healthier relationship" with Africa.
But he appears to have changed his tune, sidelining a minister who declared FrançAfrique "dead". Mr Bongo was a guest at the Elysée palace last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; africawinsagain; bongo; corruption; foreignaid; france
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My apologies for posting such a severely-edited article....this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic posting rules pertaining to articles from the UK Telegraph. I had to excise a significant amount of text in order to be able to post here, so you will be missing quite a bit of the story if you don't click on the original article link.
***********************************************
REUTERS
President Nguema's son has a $35 million mansion in Malibu
![](http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/malabo2DM1603_468x313.jpg)
The slums of Malabo on the island of Bioko, the capital city of Equitorial Guinea
1
posted on
07/16/2008 1:33:32 PM PDT
by
Stoat
To: Stoat
Soon...it will be like this all over the world if the liberals have their way. Or at least in the US! come on Pelosi....give away more of my money to the slackers.
2
posted on
07/16/2008 1:38:37 PM PDT
by
applpie
To: Stoat
This reminds me of the stories my husband told me about the corruption that followed the Live Aid concerts back in the 80’s. He said there were tv programs in England that exposed where the money actually went- what food was bought with the donations was left in warehouses to rot but the majority of it went on expensive liquor and other items for the country’s rulers.
3
posted on
07/16/2008 1:39:01 PM PDT
by
MissEdie
(On the Sixth Day God created Spurrier)
To: Stoat
Yep, and didn't Congress just approve about $50
BILLION in aid to Africa a few weeks ago??
Our hard earned money going down the huge black hole that is the continent of Africa decade after decade after decade....
4
posted on
07/16/2008 1:42:59 PM PDT
by
Abathar
(Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
To: Stoat
If anyone with even a modicum of intellect were surprised at this revelation, I would be shocked. And yet we continue to bestow taxpayer largess on these thugs.
5
posted on
07/16/2008 1:46:57 PM PDT
by
davisfh
( Islam is a serious mental illness)
To: All
Mr Nguema Jnr allegedly owns a Bugatti Veyron - dubbed the most powerful car in the world - which he bought for 1.1 million euros, as well as a Maserati MC 12 which cost him 709,000 euros. ![](http://www.mediaflix.net/Thumbnails/video-Bugatti-Veyron-supercar.jpg)
Bugatti Veyron
![](http://www.supercars.dk/images/products/wallpaper-maserati-mc12.jpg)
Maserati MC-12
6
posted on
07/16/2008 1:50:54 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: davisfh
There is a reason that Africa is known as the dark continent....
(oh damn, can I say that?)
7
posted on
07/16/2008 1:51:55 PM PDT
by
B.O. Plenty
(Give war a chance......)
To: Stoat
France recieves more than a 1/4 of the entire EU budget via farm subsidies.
They have a major financial interest in keeping African farming countries as destabled as possible.
8
posted on
07/16/2008 1:51:58 PM PDT
by
Proud_USA_Republican
(We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
To: applpie
As soon as I saw that article, the first thing I thought was “I bet most of that money came from American taxpayers, or at least Western nations”.
9
posted on
07/16/2008 1:51:59 PM PDT
by
yarddog
To: Stoat
African DemoRAT Party leaders revel in largesse while people live in poverty. There. Fixed it.
10
posted on
07/16/2008 1:53:17 PM PDT
by
Seruzawa
(American Government: Providing Middle Class Incomes to Unemployables for Over 200 Years!)
To: B.O. Plenty
Not according to the racist dems. Please report to your nearest Hillary re-education camp immediatly.
11
posted on
07/16/2008 1:54:00 PM PDT
by
Proud_USA_Republican
(We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
To: Stoat
If anyone with even a modicum of intellect were surprised at this revelation, I would be shocked. And yet we continue to bestow taxpayer largess on these thugs.
12
posted on
07/16/2008 1:54:52 PM PDT
by
davisfh
( Islam is a serious mental illness)
To: Stoat
Just beautiful! That car just dares you!
13
posted on
07/16/2008 1:56:14 PM PDT
by
JZelle
To: Abathar
This is why that global poverty bill 0bambi is trying to ram through congress is such a bad idea. $900 billion MORE than we already give in aid, and it's being funneled through the UN, which is even worse.
14
posted on
07/16/2008 2:03:46 PM PDT
by
Hoffer Rand
(0bambi: the audacity of hype)
To: Hoffer Rand
I’m glad someone said it (Obama’s program will be more of the same). Its enough to make me un-retire and work for the UN so I can recoup some of the money they’re giving away by robbing me through inflation and taxes.
To: Stoat
![](http://photobucket.com/albums/v253/chode6/chode.gif)
the Veyron, is as ugly as it is powerful...
16
posted on
07/16/2008 3:30:25 PM PDT
by
Chode
(American Hedonist ©®-CTHULHU/NYARLATHOTEP'08=Nothing LESS!!!)
To: Stoat
17
posted on
07/16/2008 3:31:15 PM PDT
by
Chode
(American Hedonist ©®-CTHULHU/NYARLATHOTEP'08=Nothing LESS!!!)
To: Chode
the Veyron, is as ugly as it is powerful... I suppose it may have a strong appeal if you happen to be an utterly corrupt and psychopathic African dictator, it is entirely paid for by the blood, sweat and immeasurable suffering of others, and it facilitates and enhances your dating opportunities with jet-setting whores.
18
posted on
07/16/2008 3:35:30 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
Are these the people sending me those emails?
I didn’t know they really had money!!!
I will write them back right away!
/sarc
Seriously, what hypocrites are the concerned leftists, when the rulers they revere live like that while children starve around them?
*sigh*
19
posted on
07/16/2008 3:36:24 PM PDT
by
fanfan
(SCC:Canadians have constitutional protection to all opinions, as long as they are based on the facts)
To: MissEdie; All
This reminds me of the stories my husband told me about the corruption that followed the Live Aid concerts back in the 80s. He said there were tv programs in England that exposed where the money actually went- what food was bought with the donations was left in warehouses to rot but the majority of it went on expensive liquor and other items for the countrys rulers.If anyone is aware of any African aid organization that accepts individual, private donations and you are confident that the aid money goes directly to those in need with an absolute minimum of administrative overhead and circumvents local corruption, please feel free to post information about it here.
20
posted on
07/16/2008 4:20:40 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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