Obama Says Africa Leaders Must Take Responsibility for Failures

[xav]

July 8 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said African leaders should take responsibility for a lack of economic progress, adding that “excuses” about neo-colonialism had hindered progress on the world’s poorest continent.

The U.S. and Western nations can’t be blamed for “disastrous policies” in some African countries or for the economic collapse in Zimbabwe in the past 15 to 20 years, Obama said in a July 2 interview with AllAfrica.com, released by the White House today.

Obama, whose father was from Kenya, will visit Ghana on July 10 in his first official trip to a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. More African leaders should commit to democracy and respect for the rule of law as a way of boosting investment in the continent, Obama said, citing Ghana as a good example. Per- capita income in Sub-Saharan Africa is $951, compared with $5,801 in Latin America, according to the World Bank.

“I think what’s hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we’ve made excuses about corruption or poor governance,” Obama said. “That this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism. I’m not a believer in excuses.”

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980, blames U.S. and European Union sanctions for his country’s economic collapse. The southern African nation’s economy has been in recession for a decade and 94 percent of the population has no formal employment, according to the United Nations.

“It’s very important for African leadership to take responsibility and be held accountable,” Obama said.

Backsliding

The president said that while there has been progress toward democracy and good governance in Africa, there have also been incidents of “backsliding,” such as in Kenya. President Mwai Kibaki formed a unity government last year with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, then an opposition leader, after a disputed election in December 2007 resulted in ethnic clashes that killed about 1,500 people. Odinga has complained that the power-sharing agreement isn’t being fully implemented.

“I’m concerned about how the political parties do not seem to be moving into a permanent reconciliation that would allow the country to move forward,” Obama said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aQ8PGuYzzAYA

[Telmar]

Will Segolene Royal apologize for Obama's statements?:)

[xav]

Will Segolene Royal apologize for Obama's statements?:)

rofl I had the exact same thought when i first read the headline

[eskachig]

I'm glad he said what should be said more often.

[Mastermind]

I suppose, then...the Black American leader will take full responsibilities for his failures, too. He's gonna have a bushel full of 'em...

[The Balkan]

I suppose, then...the Black American leader will take full responsibilities for his failures, too. He's gonna have a bushel full of 'em...

I wasn't aware he was president of just Black Americans.

[I can't think of a name]

It Jesse Jackson going to rip Obama's balls off for talking down to black people again?

[Laworkerbee]

Where the hell does the president get off saying the Africans can't blame colonialism when the stain of European colonialism remains to divide Africa to this very day?

Look at those God damned borders that cause so much bloodshed Mr President. The Africans didn't create them - The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, did.

[kc135cc]

I suppose, then...the Black American leader will take full responsibilities for his failures, too. He's gonna have a bushel full of 'em...



I think Every President will have failures... I mean seriously, Look at the past eight years.:cantbeli: There is no President in American History that has gotten it "All" right.

[BlisteringFreakachu]

I think Every President will have failures... I mean seriously, Look at the past eight years.:cantbeli: There is no President in American History that has gotten it "All" right.

What about James K. Polk?

[Dexx]

Where the hell does the president get off saying the Africans can't blame colonialism when the stain of European colonialism remains to divide Africa to this very day?

Look at those God damned borders that cause so much bloodshed Mr President. The Africans didn't create them - The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, did.

Only partly true. When the European powers withdrew from Africa, all African leaders wanted those borders to remain intact. They did not want eg interborder tribes to get full autonomy because this would have been disastrous for their own claim to power. Read something on the uti possidetis principle. This was the basis for todays African states.

[kc135cc]

What about James K. Polk?


Although his record is impressive, I will give you that, but to say he got it "all" right is a false statement. He was only Human after all :|, I still stand behind my comment.

[Mastermind]

I think Every President will have failures... I mean seriously, Look at the past eight years.:cantbeli: There is no President in American History that has gotten it "All" right.
When this BO guy is finished, we're probably going to look back at even Harrison's term with envy and awe. We've probably come to the bottom of it with this preset lunatic megalomaniac and his cronies in office...he'll make Bush Jr. look like a genius by comparison.

[Kit]

About as effective as yelling into a bottomless pit.

[FullMetalJackass]

When this BO guy is finished, we're probably going to look back at even Harrison's term with envy and awe. We've probably come to the bottom of it with this preset lunatic megalomaniac and his cronies in office...he'll make Bush Jr. look like a genius by comparison.



I am already looking at the Bush presidency with envy. The coming economic trainwreck guided by Mugabe light will make everyone wish for the days of 5% unemployment and DOW 12000 during the Bush years.

[Panchito12]

If Bush had said that the American press would've labeled him a racist.

[dttk0009]

If Bush had said that the American press would've labeled him a racist.
Most likely, haha.

[TR1]

When this BO guy is finished, we're probably going to look back at even Harrison's term with envy and awe. We've probably come to the bottom of it with this preset lunatic megalomaniac and his cronies in office...he'll make Bush Jr. look like a genius by comparison.
THat is quite frankly, impossible.

[Winger]

THat is quite frankly, impossible.


Have to agree with that. I'm not a lover of Obamanomics but he did more good in one day with Russian relations than the previous administration did in 8 years.

[Ought Six]

Is Obama going to take responsibilty for his failures?

[dttk0009]

Is Obama going to take responsibilty for his failures?
Only half of them.

[xav]

Where the hell does the president get off saying the Africans can't blame colonialism when the stain of European colonialism remains to divide Africa to this very day?

Look at those God damned borders that cause so much bloodshed Mr President. The Africans didn't create them - The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, did.

yeah yeah...

and look at all the capital cities and infrastructures in (at least) west africa... the same The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, created them.

God knows what would be there if they didn't.

[BAF]

Where the hell does the president get off saying the Africans can't blame colonialism when the stain of European colonialism remains to divide Africa to this very day?

Look at those God damned borders that cause so much bloodshed Mr President. The Africans didn't create them - The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, did.


its been ****ing 60 years ago, like he said no excusus. My country got blown to bits so many times by the Germans, French and so on but you dont see us wine about it and blame them for everything thats going wrong over here. NO we started rebuilding our ****.

We gave them enough money over the past few years, Billions and what did they do with it? i had it with these lame ass excuses.

[Fargin]

yeah yeah...

and look at all the capital cities and infrastructures in (at least) west africa... the same The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, created them.

God knows what would be there if they didn't.
The minerals and the fossil fuel maybe? :D

[sreto]

its been ****ing 60 years ago, like he said no excusus. My country got blown to bits so many times by the Germans, French and so on but you dont see us wine about it and blame them for everything thats going wrong over here. NO we started rebuilding our ****.

Sixty years isnt a long time, considering how many conflicts there have been in Africa in that period.


and look at all the capital cities and infrastructures in (at least) west africa... the same The French, Belgians, Germans, English, Portuguese, etc, created them.


Everything that was created by the Europeans was created in order to increase their profits through the exploitation of the natives and the natural resources of their land. I doubt that they colonized Africa just so they could build cities for the natives.

[Koppo]

Sixty years isnt a long time, considering how many conflicts there have been in Africa in that period.



Everything that was created by the Europeans was created in order to increase their profits through the exploitation of the natives and the natural resources of their land. I doubt that they colonized Africa just so they could build cities for the natives.

Actualy the reason for colonization given to European public was that it was white mans destiny and responsibility to educate Africans and bring modernity to that continent and there wasn't really many colonies that were profitable save for Belgian Congo. And Congo was subjected to such savagery under King Leopold's rule that it created a huge outrage in Europe when everyone found out what had been going on there.. Not that it much eased the conditions for Congolese. Anyways Africans would have had pretty hard time to establish civilization in jungles or other extreme conditions when their main concern was to find food and land was very sparsely populated.

[3rdMillhouse]

I'm glad he said what should be said more often.

Exactly, you ain't got no excuses to be an utter failure when your continent is crammed with natural resources.

[Laworkerbee]

Only partly true. When the European powers withdrew from Africa, all African leaders wanted those borders to remain intact. They did not want eg interborder tribes to get full autonomy because this would have been disastrous for their own claim to power. Read something on the uti possidetis principle. This was the basis for todays African states.

Thanks pal, I'll look for that - can you recommend anything?


We gave them enough money over the past few years, Billions and what did they do with it? i had it with these lame ass excuses.

Those artificial borders created in European capitols still exist, dividing tribes and peoples and causing bloodshed - this is the legacy of colonialism I'm talking about, nothing more.

[Gleipnir]

Anyways Africans would have had pretty hard time to establish civilization in jungles or other extreme conditions when their main concern was to find food and land was very sparsely populated.

You know, it is statements such as this one that always leave me so dumbfounded.
People seriously need to overcome their ethnocentric ideas that their form of 'civilization' and world-view is the best.

It should be a matter of what is appropriate.
A Kalahari bushman learned over many many years how to effectively survive in an incredibly harsh landscape with a culture that worked with this goal.

Modernity and signifiers of civilization are not always appropriate.
It does not make any ****ing sense whatsoever to build a train-track in the middle of a rainforest.
It doesn't make any ****ing sense, at all, to build Western style homes in the rainforest either. Maybe it will show a little bit of your 'civilization', but in the end it is inappropriate and ill-suited for the task at hand.
Living in huts with raised floors and open walls has worked just fine for many many years. Simple, effective and appropriate.

Speaking about cultural perception and the attempts to mould and change them without taking into account that there is already one that has existed for many many years in the first place is an even larger matter entirely.

What? But the USA has been to the moon?
So what. Drop your average, modern, civilized American or European into the Kalahari desert and they will not be able to survive.

Who says what a bushman has isn't civilization?

Africa has had many glorious civilizations in the past- look no further then the incredibly rich history of Ethiopia.

You need to check your ethnocentric colonial attitude before you say such throwaway nonsense.

[Dinges]

Those artificial borders created in European capitols still exist, dividing tribes and peoples and causing bloodshed - this is the legacy of colonialism I'm talking about, nothing more.


To a degree you are right. But local cultural groups are fully in accepting of these borders and it is mostly the odd ideologists that will play that card here for some form of advancement.

For example:

Where I stay the predominant cultural group is Setswana. The same cultural group are the dominant group in neighbouring Botswana. On the Botswana side they are fiercely patriotic and proud Botswanans. And the Setswana in SA feel the same about SA. And to this day I have not heard a single call for uniting land or abolishing borders.

[Laworkerbee]

To a degree you are right. But local cultural groups are fully in accepting of these borders and it is mostly the odd ideologists that will play that card here for some form of advancement.

For example:

Where I stay the predominant cultural group is Setswana. The same cultural group are the dominant group in neighbouring Botswana. On the Botswana side they are fiercely patriotic and proud Botswanans. And the Setswana in SA feel the same about SA. And to this day I have not heard a single call for uniting land or abolishing borders.

Good point pal, it's always good to get an African's perspective on these things. One can only learn so much by reading and such when not having lived there.

[Dinges]

Good point pal, it's always good to get an African's perspective on these things. One can only learn so much by reading and such when not having lived there.

Pleasure. I just like the fact that you and more people like yourself take interest in Africa.

Cheers.

[xav]

Good point pal, it's always good to get an African's perspective on these things. One can only learn so much by reading and such when not having lived there.

I grew up 15 years in west africa (former french colonies) because of my dads work.

On many occasions, the elder africans told me they missed the colonial era, because economy was better, cities and infrastructures were better, etc.

I am not making this **** up.

When they close the french military base in central african republic a majority of locals were against the decision and demonstrated.

On the other hand, i admit some of the younger generations can be hostile to "westerners" (read whites from the north).
But again most elders are nostalgic of the colonies because they witness how things deteriorate.

[Laworkerbee]

Xav,

That makes absolute sense to me.

[Dinges]

For a bit more perspective , have a look at the documentary "Senator Obama goes to Africa". It can be found in parts at YT.

Good documentary.

[Koppo]

You know, it is statements such as this one that always leave me so dumbfounded.
People seriously need to overcome their ethnocentric ideas that their form of 'civilization' and world-view is the best.

It should be a matter of what is appropriate.
A Kalahari bushman learned over many many years how to effectively survive in an incredibly harsh landscape with a culture that worked with this goal.

Modernity and signifiers of civilization are not always appropriate.
It does not make any ****ing sense whatsoever to build a train-track in the middle of a rainforest.
It doesn't make any ****ing sense, at all, to build Western style homes in the rainforest either. Maybe it will show a little bit of your 'civilization', but in the end it is inappropriate and ill-suited for the task at hand.
Living in huts with raised floors and open walls has worked just fine for many many years. Simple, effective and appropriate.

Speaking about cultural perception and the attempts to mould and change them without taking into account that there is already one that has existed for many many years in the first place is an even larger matter entirely.

What? But the USA has been to the moon?
So what. Drop your average, modern, civilized American or European into the Kalahari desert and they will not be able to survive.

Who says what a bushman has isn't civilization?

Africa has had many glorious civilizations in the past- look no further then the incredibly rich history of Ethiopia.

You need to check your ethnocentric colonial attitude before you say such throwaway nonsense.

It's culture alright adapted to survive in harsh conditions. Does it offer better quality in life? Perhaps, but it's very relative. People living in third world countries might be happier and content with less, but then again they lack things like dental care and health care in general. Also you have a lot more possibilities what to do with your life in industrialised service based culture than you would in nature and if you happen to be female i'd wager 75% of time you have it better in western culture than in most tribal cultures. It's all very relative and i'm sure many people living in primitive conditions deep in jungle don't want to change their life style, but i prefer living in western society. It doesn't matter if some group of people are adapted to survive in desert or other extreme condition, life is just a lot easier and less hazardous here.

[Johnny_H02]

Those artificial borders created in European capitols still exist, dividing tribes and peoples and causing bloodshed - this is the legacy of colonialism I'm talking about, nothing more.
Really though if we dig deep enough, its not like the tribal lives of Africans before Colonialism was paradise. Shaka Zulu would just order mass executions out of hand, witch doctors would randomly say people were possessed by "demons". When Shaka's mother Nandi died he ordered crops destroyed ensuring many would starve, the execution of pregnant women. No European forced his hand.

One tribe doesn't speak for all Africa but like all human beings there were probably war's over territorial boundaries, cattle etc. I know your not guilty of this LAWB but it drives me crazy when people pretend that somehow the Europeans went and disturbed a perfectly benevolent garden of Eden Africa with Guns Diamonds and Money.

[Laworkerbee]

One tribe doesn't speak for all Africa but like all human beings there were probably war's over territorial boundaries, cattle etc. I know your not guilty of this LAWB but it drives me crazy when people pretend that somehow the Europeans went and disturbed a perfectly benevolent garden of Eden Africa with Guns Diamonds and Money.

I'm not trying to blame Europe for Africa's ills. I'm simply pointing out that these borders which are still in place are responsible for much bloodshed. The UN and others always strive for "stability" and try to keep the status quo in place, I think the world should take a step back and let the cookie crumble so to speak and let the Africans work it out themselves, locally.

Will this be a bloody process? I'm quite sure of it, but I would hope it would in the long term alleviate some of the suffering now endured by many peoples across the African continent.

[Mastermind]

^^ Good common sense on that LAWB...I second your thoughts on the subject.

[Johnny_H02]

x2 I agree with LAWB as well. My only concern happens to be that the 'damage' so to speak has been done already. A new way of commerce and perhaps corruption for financial gain has been adopted and I doubt the power holders would be willing to give that up. Also I think it would be less a situation of alleviating the suffering of Africans and more a scenario where the West simply absolves all remaining responsibility and lets the continent show its true colours through its own actions with no interference.

Ether way its a win/win for us and the people there who aren't power holders still lose. It maintains the status quo without us even trying. Maybe I'm being too much the devils advocate, I'll admit I am fairly un-educated about post-colonial Africa.

[Lancero]

Everything that was created by the Europeans was created in order to increase their profits through the exploitation of the natives and the natural resources of their land.

That's the story of every country I know of. Either in Africa, Europe, Asia or the Americas.