Africa, a Troubled Continent, Eyes Obama With Impossibly High Hopes
Congo: A conflict in the eastern part of the country brings in both ethnic rivalry and the involvement of neighboring Rwanda. Recent fighting has involved the Congolese Army, Congolese ethnic Tutsi, and former Rwandan Hutu militias. The presence of 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers and mediation efforts have failed to restore peace.
Somalia: U.S. forces have been intermittently striking against Islamist militants in one of the world's most lawless lands, known to most Americans as the scene of an ill-fated, U.S.-backed U.N. peacekeeping operation in 1993. Islamist insurgents are fighting to regain power lost when neighboring Ethiopia sent in troops two years ago, with militias of some of Somalia's warlords also in the fight. The chaos has spawned a wave of piracy against ships passing off the country's coast.
Zimbabwe: Nationalist leader-turned-despot Robert Mugabe continues to block an opposition movement that was democratically elected from taking power—or even from sharing power as envisioned in a compromise arrangement that was negotiated. Mediation efforts led by South Africa have proved weak, and the region's governments have been unwilling to seriously squeeze the Mugabe regime. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is in free fall. About half of the remaining population is hungry or worse, and 4 million have fled to South Africa or Botswana. The economy has collapsed, with unemployment above 80 percent and hyperinflation rendering the country's money virtually worthless. Cholera is now a threat.
- Read more about the perilous world that Obama inherits.
- Read about Iran's nuclear challenge.
- Read about containing North Korea's nuclear breakout.
- Read about how Afghanistan will be a hard war for Obama to win.
- Read about whether Obama can begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
- Read about how China will test the Obama administration.
- Read about why Russia may become a big problem for Obama.
- Read about the multiple crises in the troubled Middle East.
- Read about European expectations for Obama's presidency.
- Read about how Obama could change Cuba policy.
- Read about Canada's and Mexico's wish lists for Obama.
Reader Comments
Africa, a Troubled Continent, Eyes Obama With Impossibly High Hopes
Are Nigerians and Africa in general inherently predisposed to gluttony and corruption? The practice of how unscrupulous Nigerians try to out-do each other in the art of who looted what and how much and when, demonstrate a culture that requires a different kind of antidote than whatever they have in place today. If the forces of natural destination have not condemned us to mediocrity, the genius of Nigerians to counter and prevail in prosperity is imaginable.
Our country and continent is a place of great concern for all of us, because we believe we can do better for our nation and our families. Nigeria is under a recession like most other countries in the world. The central economic issue can change if Nigeria and African leaders declare radical new economic social cultural measures that decriminalize the nature of Africa’s social corruption and practices. To get results that would resolve the chaos plaguing Africa “we must listen to our people, including those who are corrupt by default, those who wanted to keep the tradition of the old century of tribal favoritism, and those new educated elites in western cultures ingeniously advancing the imperialist interest after colonialism, and listen to those who push for ways of the present and future.” By Joseph Eshimakuni Ukonga. The reasons for political social and economic life and crimes of any nation have roots in its national experience and culture, practiced long enough to become fairly accepted or pervasive. The mind set and ideological conflict of Nigeria or Africans persuades them to keep stolen money and nation’s wealth in the bushes or stash them in foreign accounts used by those countries to build viable economies for their family and their nation, while many Nigerians and Africa are dying of starvation and simple curable diseases. The reinvested of recoverable asset back into the African economy just like the stolen dreams and visions of Africans generations ago or the brain drain and exploitations of Africa’s human and natural resources to create a better living African society and strengthen our nation and restore pride in Africa as a peaceful land envisioned by our great ancestors from Egypt to Cape Town.
Relief for US non immigrant
I think preisdent Obama should assist non immigrants living in the US by granting them the previledge to adjust their status and begin a new life.Policy makers should exclude aliens who are inclined to criminal activities.The honest and law abiding alien should be given room to make his or her contribution in the building of America's economy.The tax burden rest primarily on those who earn less than one hundred ten thousand dollarls annually($110,000.00),which means that great number non immigrants and immigrants fall within the tax bracket together with manstream average Americans,who pay the taxes,money the government need to function.Unfortunately,these are the people that are least consider for any asistance.
Poverty is a global phenomenon,studies in europe has found out that unemployed youth are easily radicalized to uphold extremist ideology.Therefore,non immigrant should be allow to make a living by extending a
tender loving kindness that will make their stay in the US legal.However,this does not justify felon who violated the laws of the land to satisfied their want,but to create a condusive atmosphere to reduce the stress and depression caused by the current economic crisis.
Many policy makers and those who influence policies, have no idea what it means to be poor and making a living in a foreign
land.There is a higher power watching over the whole world and what we do towards the welfare of our fellow man shall be counted to us as blessing.Moreover,when we failed to do what is right when we have the power to go good,that is sin.
I believe that the US must strongly continue to support Israel.The US policy toward Africa must be based on a long term project for Africa's progress in the field of Science and technology,communication,infrastructure,education and food security.I will make a living by my handwriting,but i promise that someday i shall make a living with my pen.(Alexandre Dumas).
Africa-High hope?
Africa and the African have what it atkes to turn the African's lifestyle around. The main position for the Obama administration to take is to :
1,Prevent the currupt leaders of Africa from sucking the blood
of their people , set up Anti-curruption crusade.
2,Sanction any country that allow the rigging of their election, Prevent the leaders and the followers from craziness of power.
3,Repatriate those money starched in the foreign Banks, by their leaders to an excrow account that can monitor the effective use of the moneis.
4,Transparecncy should be encouraged and protection to be available to the wistleblowers.
Africans/Africa may not require any aid if the above meeasures are implimented accordingly. The common people of Africa are suffering while their leaders are getting fatter, sorry mother Africa.
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