Darfur is a damning indictment on the ineffectiveness of the UN. Last year Colin Powell tried to get the UN to declare the action of the Sudanese government as genocide. No one was interested, and some (including France, surprise, surprise) actually opposed US efforts to deal with the problem.

However, progress in Africa is possible. Examples of democracy and good governance can be seen in Ghana, Senegal and Mozambique, and should inspire us to see that things can work there.

The 'strings attached' approach by the developed world is the only way to see the money given being used effectively. Otherwise it is throwing good money after bad, and will only result in the reinforcing of tribal dictators like Mugabe and Gbagbo of Ivory Coast.

Bob Geldof and Bono seem to be impressed with the contribution of George Bush with the needs in Africa. Let's hope the Europeans and Asians are as generous with their money.

ANC Divisions

ANC strategy?

Personally, I'd prefer to see the EU scrap the CAP, and reform trading terms with Africa, than pass a coffer around HQ in Brussels! Was at St.Paul's in London, listening to Kofi Annan, Gordon Brown and 2 NGO reps speak about what required of our govs, and they all stress that sustainable devlopment will only come about through better trading terms, democratisation, targeted and 'no-strings' attached aid. The fact that democratisation, as it is understood by Bush, is closely tied with the modern "war on terror" means that it is unlikely to prevail in countries, which aren't considered to be strategic in Bush's "war". In the minds of many Western civil servants in various finance departments, the other 2 recommendations are unlikely to receive much attention beyond mere tokenism.