Comments on: How Europe Lost Africa

By: David

David — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:59:45 +0000

Thanks to China the corrupt kleptocracies in Africa now have a new place to stash their ill gotten gains, thus drastically reducing European leverage on the continent.

By: A. A. B.

A. A. B. — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:40:12 +0000

Tega #2,
I agree with you that we should focus on the future, not on the past. But I am not sure what you mean by "emerging nations". Most countries in Africa are mere states who lack a real national identity.

Quite some African countries have become pragmatical in choosing their partners. They will work with those who benefit them the most. In many recent cases, these are the Chinese. If Africa is intersting for Europe, Europeans should make sure that cooperations are intersting for their African partners as well.

By: Tega

Tega — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:58:35 +0000

It is very surprising how Europe view Africa, even in this 21st century. Africa is changing fast, both economically and politically, but Europe still choose to see a continent which it colonized rather than emerging nations. Africans are much more aware that they need to deal with other nations equally and in the near future this will become a major problem for Europe as African countries will take more to the Asia than Europe. Then Europe will not only loose its political ties, but also economic and historical ties with Africa

By: A. A. B.

A. A. B. — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:58:45 +0000

My honest opinion? Ending colonialism in the 1950 and 60s, under American and Soviet pressure, was a big mistake. The behavior afterwards (indeirect colonialism, Francafrique…) was an even bigger mistake.

Now we should see Africans as full human beings (which I would think some EU member states governments still do not) and work with people, not dictatorships. For example, if the EU gives millions to Kenya to fight against corruption, it is obvious that this money will go into the pockets of corrupt functionaries. Let’s work with local companies and civil society instead, see them as partners.