Yves Tchapda (28-03-05)

There has been so much talk from the West over the years about helping Africa in its quest to reverse its dire poverty, but there has never been any concrete and palpable policy geared towards achieving a tangible improvement in the plight of Africans. Some people advocate the slashing of African debts, while others encourage the boosting of Aids. For so long, Africa has been regarded as a land of poverty, starvation, dictators, civil war, fractious politics, etc. While this article should not deflect away our own responsibilities (as Africans) to the tragedy now unfolding in our continent, the degree of the West's guilt and involvement in Africa's decline is unequivocal: The West has a lot to answer for.

Setting the Scene

Since the arrival of the white man, Africa has been torn apart by various western powers in the scramble to exploit its wealth and resources. For many centuries, Africa was a fertile ground to breed slaves, which were shipped to Europe and America for the sole purpose of boasting western economies. Sadly, the abolition of slavery in the 19th century did not see an end to the unwelcomed and viscious attention that Europe has always reserved for Africa. Slavery was replaced by colonisation, which saw the "dark" continent being carved up mainly by England, France, Portugal and Belgium, with England and France taking the lion's share. Countries were divided along subjective lines, with very little regard to cultural or ethnic groupings.

At the outbreak of the second world war, many African countries were given the promise that real independence would irrevocably follow the end of the war, provided they fought along side their "colonial masters". French Speaking Africa was particularly entrenched in the war, after the speedy capitulation of France in the hands of the Nazis. From Senegal to Congo, French speaking Africans fought tooth and nail for the so-called "mother-land", as France was being portrayed to the unsuspecting Africans. Africans whole heartedly heeded general DeGaulle's call to fight for a "free" France. It took about 15 years or more after the war, for most of the countries to gain their independence, with France in particular showing no gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice endured by the Africans, in the name of the free "metropole"!

Political Nightmare: France, the Biggest Culprit

The 1950s were marked by a new wave of political awareness amongst the African intellectual elite. Political parties were formed, with the objective of securing palpable and meaningful independence for Africa. It was very clear to them that the promises made before the war were not going to be honoured by the West. Most of these political parties operated along peaceful lines, but their peaceful protests always encountered violent reactions from the colonial forces. In Cameroon's western province for instance, more than 300,000 "Bamilekes" were massacred by French Soldiers in the space of a few years. The same story was repeated across the continent, where legitimate protests were brutally quelled by the imperialistic forces.

When it became clear that the Western powers had no choice, but to hastily abandon Africa, France and England adopted very different strategies in their retreat. While the English relinquished powers to the legitimate representatives who had been imprisoned, such as Kwame Krumah of Ghana, France on the other hand summarily executed the rightful leaders, like Um Nyobe of Cameroon, deciding to carry on its rule mercilessly (this time by proxy), by crowning puppet leaders, who had no legitimacy, no intellectual capacity, nor any vision to rule the country and propel it to the next level. These leaders lacked the basic mental prowess to grasp what was at stake. They were just stooges of the West. In Cameroon, administration was handed over to Ahidjo who had never studied beyond primary school level! Many of the prominent figures who were engaged in the fight for genuine independence were either stifled through torture in prison or silently assassinated like Felix Moumie, killed in Geneva in 1960. In Ivory coast, Togo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Tchad, etc., the same scenario was skillfully orchestrated by France. France has been at the centre of one of the darkest episodes of African history, dominated by executions, assassinations, torture, etc. The history of the Algerian war is a poignant reminder.

Ever since, Africa, particularly the French speaking corner, has been ruthlessly and unashamedly governed by despotes whose sole concern has been to get richer and richer, irrespective of the starvation all around them, and to maintain a grip on power while ruling with an iron fist. All these evil regimes have been protected by France, whose economy has been the major beneficiary of the result of this pillage. Any African government that has tried to steer away from French domination has seen its days in powers abruptly cut short, by a military coup organised by French security forces. Why on earth do we have up to 5 French military bases in Africa? The usual story is that these bases are part of bilateral military co-operations between African and the French governments. But most Africans know that this is just an extension of French imperialistic zeal. As we witness the events in Ivory Coast unfolding, even the sceptics will be left in no doubt as to the motives of the French military presence in that country, disguised as part of the UN peace keeping forces. What a sham!

The example of Togo can help illustrate to what extent France is deeply implicated in the ruins of Africa. After the death of the ex-dictator Eyadema, and in the wake of his son seizing power in a constitutional "coup d'etat", The French president Jacques Chirac praised the former president, describing him as a good friend of France and a man of peace. This is a man whose rule has been one of the most ruthless in Africa. A man whose 37 years reign as head of state in Togo saw the disappearance of many political opponents and the savage reprisal at the sligthest dissent. A man whose grip to the country was absolute and unquestionable during all those years of mismanagement, embezzlement, nepotism, etc. The same story can be told in other French speaking countries, from West to Central Africa. While England has adopted a hands off attitude to most of their former African colonies, France has been strengthening its position, especially, as this its only important geopolitical sphere of influence in the world. As long as Africa remains enslaved by countries such as France, we will continue to sink into oblivion and our scourge will have no end!

The Missing Billions!

Recently, the British Prime Minister (Tony Blair) and his finance minister (The chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown) engaged in a political crusade to help Africa escape poverty. An African commission has been set up to investigate ways to help Africa in this endeavour. While there is no reason to prematurely doubt the UK government's intention, one cannot help but wonder whether there is any real political will and clout behind such a scheme, and why this is happening now, given that this is certainly an election year in Great Britain.

Irrespective of the real motives, much more needs to be done than just promise £25 billions worth of aid to Africa over the next 10 years. If there is any shred of willingness from the West to help, they should implement the recommendations put forward by the African commission.
For many decades now, the West has been well aware of the huge amount of cash that is being looted by the vast majority of African leaders and their cronies. Yet, they've failed to clamp down the shaddy activities, since they've been the main beneficiaries.

It beggars belief to think that while African countries are the poorest on this planet, their leaders are among the richest men on earth, stashing billions in western bank accounts. The late Sani Abacha who ruled Nigeria for just 5 years had amassed a handsome fortune of more than £1 billion in London banks. Most African leaders who have been in power for more than 10 years boast well over £1 billion in their foreign accounts, while many Africans are subjected daily to abject and unimaginable poverty. If Tony Blair is serious about his "Marshall" plan for Africa, he can take the lead in returning the missing billions that had been illicitly taken away from Africa, given that London has been acknowledged by the US as the most prominent financial centre for money laundry. It is absolutely derisory for the Swiss who have enjoyed the fallout from the stolen money from Africa to promise to return a meager £500 millions, from all the billions they have profited over more than 5 decades.

With so much cash being looted out of the continent, African countries are becoming desperately poor. This can easily be corroborated by the tremendous influx of immigrants into Europe, ready to risk their lives in an attempt to escape the tyranny and misery. Twenty years ago, when I was taking my first step to England as a student, there was virtually no queue at the various European Embassies in Cameroon. Today, the worryingly long queues at the Western embasssies tell their own story. There is a scramble to get out. It has become a kind of "May the last person to leave Cameroon, turn off the lights, please" attitude.

Without seriously and severely clamping down corrupt African leaders (The vast majority of them are corrupt), it is hard to see how all the talks of boosting aid, or cancelling debts will bear fruit. At the end of the day, any aid will immediately find its way back into western bank accounts. Do we really think that the West has any interest in stopping that, since their economies are so dependent? Is it just "Pie in the sky"? I wonder.

Africa, The Dumping Ground

Another problem that has dogged Africa, ever since the creation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), is the "dumping" of over-production into the third world. The CAP was created to avoid food shortages, that was prevalent in Europe after the second world war. This policy has led to surplus production in Europe, as the subsidies given to European farmers are directly linked to the amount they produce. Every attempt to revise the policy has been met with fierce opposition from France and Germany.

African economies have been seriously affected by this policy, as surpluses are dumped in Africa, well below production cost. African farmers are unable to compete with these unwelcomed produce, which are crippling their economies. The effects can be felt reverberating all across the continent, with the impact of frozen chicken, wheat, dairy products, etc. So much talk about market economy!

Any desire from Europe to see African economies take off, will have to be matched with reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy, and also allowing African produce to penetrate European markets by removing outdated trade barriers. It is in Europe's interest in the long run to see a vibrant African economy, as this would transform Africa from being a beggar's pot to being a proper trading partner. South East Asia is a clear example.

Any Hope?

In concluding this article, it is unmistakably clear that the West has an enormous responsibility towards Africa, having created a lot of the conditions that have fermented the problems which are now blighting that continent. Those problems have been to a greater extent political, with the propping up and protection of very unsuitable and shady leaders, whose sole objective has been the pillage of their countries.

When countries like France, Great Britain will match their speeches with deeds, some of us will start believing in their so far empty promises. Until then, any talk of helping Africa can only be considered as cheap political expediency and useless rhetoric, while millions are dying unfortunately... Is Tony Blair's African crusade going to reverse Africa's demise, or is it just going to be thrown into the dustbin of history as another vain and rhetorical pre-election publicity stunt or gimmick? Only history will be the judge!

In the mean time, Africa's despair can only be regarded as an affront to human civilisation.

Designed by Yves Tchapda
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