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October 21, 2008

Update on the Tuareg Rebellion

This is an extract from a newsletter I received recently from a friend in Niger. It contains an update on the current Tuareg rebellion, and some thoughts about the problem of corruption in Africa.

Despite the lull in action over the past month of Ramadan, the rebellion in the north of Niger continues unabated. Whilst we continue to pray for peace it seems very unikely that it will come anytime soon. Unfortunately it seems that this situation of unrest is to the advantage of everybody concerned, and so the poor and the innocent will continue to suffer at the hands of the corrupted system which prevails in the country. The rebels are unlikely to lay down their arms anytime soon unless their outrageous demands are met. (The newsflash from the BBC and Reuters in august was false, they have not laid down their arms). Apparently the fat cats who run this country do not want the situation to end, as every month that passes means another month of them filling their pockets with the money which they steal from the national defense budget; and with an army which is sent out drugged and drunk whenever they go out on missions, it seems that the insecurity is here to stay for another couple of years at least.

What is more, there are supposed to be national elections at the end of this year, and as the current president has served his two terms he is obliged to step down. So long as the insecurity remains however, the government can judge it too dangerous to run an election and he is able to remain in power (without having to change the constitution at the last minute which so many african leaders end up doing!).

It is a sad time for Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, to see how the poor are exploited and denied justice whilst the corrupt leaders fill their pockets. For example, when we drive to Agadez we have to do the last 350km in the military convoy, supposedly for our protection from rebels. I heard recently that, on paper, the daily convoy has an escort of twenty army vehicles accompanying it. In reality however I have never seen more than five or six. This means that the budget for the other fourteen vehicles, the fuel and salaries for the non-existent soldiers, is magically disappearing into thin air (aka someone's pocket). What is more, the last time we were with the convoy one of the army trucks broke down and they had to borrow a jack from one of the civilian vehicles, since they didnt have one of their own. Funny that, I bet that on paper each of the “twenty” trucks has its own jack and toolkit!

Whilst the world sends money to Africa in an effort borne of guilt, trying to 'eliminate poverty', they seem oblivious to the lies and outright corruption that exist in this continent. Every new aid initiative must fill the minds of the fat cats with glee, as they invent new ways to embezzle and steal as much as they possibly can, whilst the poor continue to die of malnutrition and lack of simple health care. Its quite normal here to go to the market and see sacks of rice or grain for sale, whilst clearly labeled 'Free gift from the People of Japan. NOT TO BE SOLD'.

Posted by sahelsteve at October 21, 2008 07:27 PM