|
Foreword
 Africa is a continent in crises: famine, civil wars, AIDS,
environmental degradation, economic disintegration,
political tyranny, social destitution, and state-sponsored
terrorism. Angola, Ethiopia, Libena, Mozambique, Rwanda,
Somalia, and Zaire are virtually destroyed. More
distressing, other African countries are edging inexorably
into a similar abyss of self-destruction.
Corruption, economic mismanagement, inane civil wars and
capital flight constantly plague a continent that is saddled
with a huge foreign debt. Civil wars have devastated the
economies of many African countries, uprooted innocent
civilians and created a massive refugee problem. Living
standards have declined absymally since independence in
the 1960s. Agricultural growth has been negligible and
widespread food shortages pose a constant threat to
survival.
Africa's record on political and human rights has been
worse than appalling. Torture, wanton executions and
pillage are daily orchestrated by regimes with palpable
contempt for human life and decency. Tyranny and flagrant
denial of basic civil liberties are rampant on a continent that
has more dictators per capita than any other region in the
world.
The situation remains bleak despite noble efforts by
multilateral lending institutions (World Bank, IMF, and
UNDP) and Westem donor governments to reverse Africa's
economic atrophy. Hundreds of billions of Westem aid were
spent to support reform in Africa and the services of
thousands of Westem experts and management consultants
were engaged. But the results have been disappointing. Is
there any hope for Africa in the 1990s and beyond?
The Free Africa Foundation,
151 I K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005, USA.
Phone: (202) 783-5433
IRS TAX-EXEMPT ID NO: 52-1849803
|
