G-8 nations pledge aid to Africa - hinges on African leaders efforts for democracy, reform

Boston Globe ^ | June 28, 2002 | Colin Nickerson

[Cincinatus' Wife]

MONTREAL - The heads of the world's wealthiest nations yesterday pledged a ''new beginning'' for inhabitants of the earth's poorest continent, signing a historic agreement to increase development aid by billions of dollars in return for a commitment from African leaders to eliminate corruption, despotism, and human rights abuses.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Genocide - The starving of Africans *** Of the 13 million Africans facing imminent hunger and possibly starvation, 6 million to 7 million are Zimbabweans. Their country was once the bread basket of Africa, with healthy annual surpluses of maize as well as good supplies of winter-grown wheat. In 2000, however, the government of President Robert Mugabe began attacking the most productive white- and black-owned commercial farms, rapidly destroying their ability to grow food or cash crops. By 2001, for a variety of reasons, Zimbabwe was effectively bankrupt, so Mugabe's men exported a vast strategic grain reserve for cash. When it became clear that the 2002 maize harvest in March would be small (mostly because of farm invasions, not so much because of weak rains), the government store was bare and there was no money to purchase maize from South Africa or Argentina.

To compound the misery of Zimbabweans, the country's minister of agriculture and other associates of Mugabe refused until April to agree that the country would run out of staple food. Opposition politicians had predicted disaster last September. But for purposes of propaganda before the presidential election in March, his government denied the possibility of shortfalls. Even after belatedly acknowledging the country's precarious food situation in April, the government has harassed external relief efforts and has succeeded in denying food relief to areas that voted against Mugabe in March. *** - Robert I. Rotberg, president of the World Peace Foundation

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[backhoe]

Well, let's toss in the banner:

AfricaWatch:

AfricaWatch: for AfricaWatch articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

I just strongly suspect this will be more money for corrupt dictators, politicians, and their friends, with little, if any, going to the needy.
Just like before.

What they need is an English-based legal system where property rights are protected, contracts made enforcable, and so on.

[piasa]

"contingent upon promises" doesn't sound too good, given that these leaders' promises mean less than Clinton's or Arafat's.

Hopefully it is contingent upon action; maybe there are some real strings since there is some whining about inadequacy or lack of pledges of aid. Let's see the reforms first, because if the aid comes first none of it will go to the people who need it anyway, and instead the funds and aid will be used to prop up the regimes until the next G8 summit when we go through the song and dance again. The sad thing is that this cycle has repeated itself all over the world with staggering regularity; the decent people die off first so the thugs can keep enjoying living off the spoils, and aid comes too late to save the victims. Instead it just feeds the murderers.

[R. Scott]

”… those African countries that demonstrate they are pursuing free market reforms and democracy.”

They only have to demonstrate that they are pursuing? They don’t actually have to make any changes?
Oh … almost forgot – in today’s world, intent is more important than action.

[backhoe]

it just feeds the murderers

Exactly.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hopefully it is contingent upon action;

Yes. And if Arafat is an example, pretty promises will get you nowhere. I do think this will have strings and hoops.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I believe that is the opening salvo. Then after they shriek about colonialism, they'll be told demostrate means to do not to talk.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This African leader is getting some notice. Perhaps his leadership will help bring reform. Senegalese Loner Works to Build Africa, His Way

[backhoe]

I'm communicating from my "backup browser"-- a 66 mhtz. 486 with a sticking keyboard & gritty trackball- so excuse the weird typos, they are hard to go back to & correct.

I'll pick up that link when I'm back on the better 486 in the kitchen- thanks!

[Burn24]

''Seventy-five million African children have never set foot inside a school, and now never will because President Bush is more interested in chasing terrorists than saving poor Africans,''

I should hope so!