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pol76
01-29-2010, 04:30 AM
Are there any good honest leaders left in africa?

Are there any just causes left to fight for that are for the people?

Will africa ever have a leader that shines through and that the west will embrace?

I loved my limited time in Africa Rwanda and Zaire (Goma) in 1994 and would love to go back but i cannot find a cause worth defending

all the best
max

Stan
01-29-2010, 06:59 AM
Hey Max,
Welcome Aboard !

Please take a few seconds here (http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?t=1441&page=58) and introduce yourself.



I loved my limited time in Africa Rwanda and Zaire (Goma) in 1994 and would love to go back but i cannot find a cause worth defending


We must have just missed each other in Sub-Sahara (I left the Rwandan border in July and Zaire in October of 94). I can't honestly say I would go back to Zaire although there's plenty of UN job openings for humanitarian demining in the DRC. I would however entertain a tour in Rwanda - probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in Africa (well, there were the nude beaches in Libreville too :p ).



Are there any good honest leaders left in africa?

Are there any just causes left to fight for that are for the people?

Will africa ever have a leader that shines through and that the west will embrace?


That's a hard one ! Check out Marian Tupy's analysis and "Dead Aid" at the Cato Institute (http://www.cato.org/) for some good indicators and articles.

Also noteworthy - 2009 was the first year the Mo Ibrahim Prize was not awarded to an African Leader.


Leaders who won't let go (http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2009/1019/p06s06-woaf.html)

Yet the past year has seen a worrisome trend nonetheless, a move of African leaders to change constitutions to extend their time in power, or to hand power down dynastically to members of their own family.

In general, a number of leaders have learned how to preserve the symbols of democracy without following the spirit of democracy, all in order to stay in power.


Sound familiar ?

Regards, Stan

pol76
01-29-2010, 02:48 PM
Thanks Stan for the fast reply

I thought Rwanda was great but I enjoyed the danger side of Zaire also the night clubs seemed more fun

I will have a look at the CATO reports and I was aware of the MO award not being given out but oh how they tried to fit square pegs in to round holes but alas failed

I have been to a few other african nations but not for longer that a week I just enjoy the freedom and the wild west feel to the place at times

I was born in the wrong era I would have liked the 60s and 70s post indy africa Congo or Biafra for the adventure and a just cause to support

all the best

max

Tom Odom
02-08-2010, 01:56 PM
Hey Max

like Stan, I probably crossed paths with you in Goma and perhaps Rwanda. The problem with African governmental development is that it remains tied to the "great man" rather than a system of government. I remain hopeful that Rwanda and Paul Kagame will break that trend.

Welcome,

Tom

carl
02-10-2010, 01:59 AM
Max:

I don't know about "causes" but I know you can do some still do some good for individuals.

This is a link to a organization called StandProud.

http://www.standproud.org/

It was started by a USAID guy and when I was there it was just him and one other person as far as ex-pats went. They work to help polio victims and it is quite inspirational.

Colin Robinson
03-29-2010, 02:45 AM
She seems, from the limited information I have available about her personally, to have her heart in the right place. In Liberia she is of course surrounded by large-scale corruption , patronage networks, etc.