---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 00:24:32 EDT
From: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
     [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
     [log in to unmask]
Subject: [AfricaMatters] African solutions don't exist,
     says former top US official

Sunday Times
South Africa
10/22/2000

African solutions don't exist, says former top US official

JOHN GROBLER in Windhoek and BOBBY JORDAN in Johannesburg

THE US's former top Africa official has launched a remarkable attack on the
continent's leadership, saying the idea that Africa can solve its own
problems is a "fatuous illusion" that causes wars.

Chester Crocker, the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, made
the comments in an interview with the Sunday Times after an investment
conference in Namibia.


Crocker, who brokered the withdrawal of 50 000 Cuban troops from Angola in
the late '80s, said: "We have this illusion, in my country in particular, and
I think it is a fatuous illusion, that there is such a thing as an African
solution to African problems.


"The centre of Africa is a very dark place at the moment and it is getting
worse and worse."


He did not criticise South Africa.


Crocker is now a research professor at Georgetown University in Washington
and chairs the US Institute of Peace.


He was scathing about African leaders who accused the West of following a
secret imperialist agenda to take control of the Democratic Republic of
Congo's mineral wealth.


He described Congo as a "geopolitical version of a free lunch", adding that
African leaders were involved in the war to serve their own interests.


"The agendas you are referring to are the agendas of neighbours . . . and it
is not a pretty picture."


In this regard, he sharply criticized the notions that there were "good and
bad guys" in the D.R.C., as well as that the world should leave Africa to
solve its own problems.


A Foreign Affairs spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, described Crocker's comments as
"unfortunate".


"Africa is endowed with a new leadership crop . . . who are more than capable
of producing African solutions to African problems, and who are proud of
their history, their culture and their dignity," he said.





-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eGroups eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/14/_/192352/_/972447892/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

To the extent possible, please keep postings concise. Our archives are at : http://www.egroups.com/group/us-afr-network .  To Post a message, send it to [log in to unmask] .  Tell others to subscribe by sending a blank message to [log in to unmask] .  To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [log in to unmask]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------