Posted on 06/13/2005 6:42:45 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Now that Africa is getting an influx of cash to pay off debts, President Bush is pushing for an influx of democracy on the troubled continent.
The United States and others of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations agreed Saturday to eliminate more than $40 billion of debt owed by 18 of the world's poorest nations as part of a British-led effort to lift Africa out of poverty.
Bush was to follow up on the agreement by playing host Monday to leaders of five countries that held democratic elections last year.
"At a time when freedom is on the march around the world, it is vital that the continent of Africa be a place of democracy and prosperity and hope, where people grow up healthy and have the opportunity to realize their dreams," Bush said in a message to African people broadcast recently on Voice of America radio.
After meeting privately in the Oval Office, Bush and the presidents of Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Niger planned to appear before the cameras to discuss U.S.-African trade.
Bush touted increased trade in his radio message. A new agreement that he signed offers duty-free treatment on some goods and other trade benefits to 37 of the 48 nations in sub-Saharan Africa.
It requires participating countries to show they are making progress toward a market-based economy, the rule of law, free trade, the protection of workers' rights and policies that will reduce poverty.
"For too many years, our assistance to Africa was sent without regard to results," Bush said in the broadcast. "Under my administration, U.S. development aid to African nations has increased. But we are not just giving more aid — we are being wiser about how it is spent."
The United States is the largest single provider of economic aid to Africa, but critics contend it is not doing enough because it has given a lower percentage of its gross domestic product in aid than other major industrialized countries.
Ghana, Mozambique and Niger are three of the nations that will benefit from the debt relief package agreed to over the weekend in London. The proposal was put forward by Britain and the United States following talks in Washington last week between Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It was made possible by a significant concession by the White House when it agreed that the debt write-off would not jeopardize future aid funding. Previously, it had insisted that debt relief come out of existing aid packages.
Last week, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the African presidents' visit "will highlight the value that the United States places on supporting democracy across Africa." He said Bush would recognize the countries' success at holding free and fair elections last year and discuss economic development, HIV/ AIDS and peace in Africa.
The elections last year saw each of the five nations either re-elect their leaders or keep the ruling party in power.
Botswana President Festus Mogae won a new term in October elections that saw his party keep its 38-year lock on power in one of Africa's most stable, and most prosperous, democracies.
Ghana's President John Kufuor, whose election victory in 2000 marked the country's first-ever democratic transfer of power, won re-election in December. The country prides itself on leading the way for a new generation of maturing African democracies.
Armando Guebuza won in December as Mozambique's ruling party candidate, but the voting was marred by such voter apathy it raised questions about the health of the emerging democracy in one of the world's poorest countries.
November elections in Namibia saw the ruling party retain the presidency with the landslide election of Hifikepunye Pohamba.
President Mamadou Tandja of Niger, the country's first elected president to complete his term without assassination or coup, won re-election in December.
TC
"The United States and others of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations agreed Saturday to eliminate more than $40 billion of debt owed by 18 of the world's poorest nations as part of a British-led effort to lift Africa out of poverty."
Somebody better tell Bob Geldof and U2 that they can cancel their crummy concert(s) now.
Another big WASTE of my tax paying money.
I'm speechless.
Quite an accomplishment there, Mamadou. Nice country.
Throwing billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars at these people won't do anything but keep the corruption going.
j12,
Those countries will remain poor as long as they are unwilling or unable to change their circumstances from within.
But why go through the tremendous effort and social upheaval when the US will just be guilted in handing over more $$ every year?
You are exactly right. I would be willing to give up citizenship and go someplace else and live if I could find one that didn't waste tax dollars.
Ummm... maybe because the Africans will ruin it?
yeah, they might do like the Japanese and Germans did after WWII, when the U.S. could have used all of those BILLIONS to do something else in our country. Who knows, we probably wouldn't even have to worry about old europe getting in the way and supporting terrorists against the interest of the U.S.
"... because the Africans will ruin it."
Precisely. We need to stop calling these funds 'loans', for they were never intended to be repaid. Money being sent to Africa is Charity for people without the inner capacity to provide for themselves.
great, more free trade. I guess companies are getting tired of paying $1 an hour in china, they now want $1 a day in africa - and the workers work until they walk off into the field next to the factory and die of AIDS. maybe they can setup the crematoria right there on the grounds of the factories.
we don't need to give american industry another haven to export jobs to. Africa is loaded with natural resources, minerals, etc. they want money, let US companies go in there and strip mine that stuff out.
but that's just my point, why just give them money instead of sending American companies over there to build the housing, hospitals, schools etc. and set up the infrastructure for them to do their own mfg and mining as you suggest..
And who would ever lend them a penny in the future?
G,
They...meaning "we"...will prolly just cease loans altogether, and simply give $$ away.
As a friend of mine uses to say, "no baboonery with my money!" And I join in this noble sentiment.
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