Again the G8 Meeting that is held every two-years has come and gone and for Africa, leaving the begging bowl empty and with the host: German  Chancellor, Angela Merkel seeking to blame the victims - African leaders. In part of her closing statement, Merkel argued that ending poverty in Africa was a two-way street in which the African leaders and corruption must also play their role. On the podium with the G8 leaders where 5 African leaders: Alpha Konare, the outgoing Chairman of the Commission on the African Union; Senegalese President Abdulay Wade; Ghanaian Khouffa  and South African President, Thabo Mbeki and Ethiopian Prime  Minister, Meles Zanawi. For Africa , there is little to identify the common thread that the G8 has used to invite them except as a bilateral measure and criterion that is not shared by the rest of Africa . Consequently, these leaders have no specific forum or mandate neither from the AU political structures nor for those matter Regional bodies such as ECOWAS, SADC and IGAD to represent the continent. More significantly, neither did this group meet to caucus their position before the Heiligendamm gathering nor are they expected to come back to Africa and then meet -- at least in the public minds of African watchers, this has not happened. Hence, their clout as a collective at the G8 was marginal if not meaningless. But what did the latest G8 offer the African continent? On the table was $ 60 Billion, not necessarily for Africa but available globally with a portion dedicated to Africa "for fighting Malaria, HIV/AIDS.” and TB" The important points to remember on this is that the funding is for the whole world and is not time bound. In perspective we have witnessed the United States committing US$15 billion to Africa over several years and  more to the point, the Gleneagles G8 offered US$35 billion of which 19 was meant to go to Africa. However, as we write, not a penny has since been released. This posture of unwillingness to assist the poverty stricken continent left both Sir Bob Geldoff and his counterpart musical giant  Bono prostate with anger and unable to contain themselves with the "gibberish commitment that had been made by the G8."

In our earlier assessment and cautionary comments, we were correct to assume that the G8 debate would be dominated by the Russia-Europe-USA missile defense shadow boxing; in which the intended deployment of US missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic had produced a dire warning from Putin that he would in retaliation deploy counter-missiles targeting the heart of Europe . This sobered up latter-day warriors such as Condoleezza   Rice who were forced to backtrack and end up with what was then announced at the end of the G8, that the US had agreed to the Russian suggestion to jointly deploy an early warning radar in Azerbaijan instead of the earlier unilateral cold war reaction.

To return to Africa and the need for the world's richest nations to assist with poverty reduction - what is actually needed? First, there is a UN resolution on the table that has called for G8 countries to devout at least 0.7% of their GDP allocated automatically as AID to Africa and parts to the globe in need. In this only Norway has achieved this goal with the US fudging a low 0.02% and the French and British entering into a strange colonial/imperial pact that they commit themselves to both reach this by 2009? As a result, as long as rich nations continue to fudge their international obligations - under a UN resolution such as in this matter then ending poverty remains a dream. Second, there is a need for the rich nations to agree to sweeping debt relief and canceling billions owed by poor and emerging African states. In this regard it must be acknowledged that some of the money was appropriated in corrupt circumstances by African leaders such as Mobutu   Se   Seko of Zaire , always at the insistence of Western monetary institutions and government. Consequently, to continue to burden the new   Congolese national with this debt is unethical and in the long run unsustainable. Third, relief must lie in the terms of trade in which the regulations as managed by the WTO is heavily skewed against African countries that have remained at the primary commodity and minerals  exporting levels without engaging in value added activities before these materials leave the African shores. It is actually argued that AFRICA DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED AID BUT FAIR AND EQUITABLE terms of trade in the global markets, a position that the monopoly giants from the West are reluctant to relinquish. Finally, the African is now afflicted by Malaria, increasing TB incidence, HIV & AIDS and with a creaking health infrastructure - given the fact that many of its qualified doctors and nurses have relocated to the West - is unable to respond and cope. If we were to remove these shackles, then poverty could be history.

For now, the G8 has come and gone and no firm, time-bound and quantifiable commitment of resources has been made leaving Africa floundering on the margins of complete collapse. If the Developed World continues to see desperate and poor boat people seeking to reach their shores then they should also be aware that they have physically contributed to this unending trend by refusing Africa a seat at the feasting table.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 12.06.2007 06:54

babacar  JJC

# 2 my interest keeps growing as I read this arctile, the analysis is very consistent and of the truth coming out of it. In its context i would like to back the ideas exposed and be an unflinching support to eucharia by saying that the west has to be more engaged in this battle against malaria, against aids, and other forms of pandemies which we can resumely called as " poverty in the south". In my point of view Africa needs to be more unified and reprensented by their leaders that very seldomly spoke the same language. by being solid the head of of african government will be better listened and therefore concrete conjugated actions. I hope such a beautiful piece will inspire most,and drive a suggestive move among watchers .congratulations for this very good work. Posted by babacar| 12.06.2007 18:53