Ok, we have all seen the turmoil and warfare and famine that goes on in the struggling continent of Africa. Many may think that it is their own doing. However, those people are wrong. The whole reason that Africa is in such chaos is because of the European colonists. The colonists were the ones who divided the ethnic groups. The colonists were the ones who oppressed the people for hundreds of years. This is the colonists' (mostly Europeans) own fault. Yet, the global community does very little to help these chaotic countries. Do you see anyone stepping in to stop the genocide in Darfur? No. Countries like the United States would rather invade a country to protect their oil than to protect the country's own citizens. There has to be something done to help the continent of Africa. I personally do not believe that anyone should change Africa by force. I do not believe in violence to solve anything. If we were born to kill each other, we would have each been born with weapons in our hands. There are other ways to solve our world's problems.

I am interested in hearing about your opinions of Africa and what can be done to restore order and save this continent.

Well, I have said earlier that the stupid borders drawn up at Berlin and later by the European powers plays a big role in Africa's problems. but making this the only cause, and taking away Africans own role in causing their misery would be a huge mistake, andwould be to take an Mugabean stance on the issue.

Africa's problems are complex, and so is the causes and solutions. A colonial past, corrupption, no fair playing field in global markets for developing countries, unhealthy loyalty to bad leaders, IMF and world bank rules, bad response to health crises like HIV-AIDS, etc. etc. etc.

And nothing can be done about the colonail past, a lot can be done about the other causes. So instead of sitting around playing the blame game, Africans should get up,and (with support of the global community) start working together to fixthis beautifull and great continent!

AH

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After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man. - Nelson Mandela

Africanhope is correct, what happenend, happenend. It is time to look forward and try build Africa from the start. The real problem is actually the World Bank and IMF who is still having the African countries in their debt cycle.. never trying to break off them... and the money spended on development or investment, is gone due to corruption. First get rid of corruption, spread the message that one voice does count in a country... and Africa is on the right path.

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"What does not kill you, make you stronger!"

Yes, the European colonists are the reason why drought occurs in Africa each year? The colonists are the reason why the Sahara desert is expanding.

While the West does exploit Africa, it also helps it a lot. There is a large peace effort by Western countries that help the African countries. Africa has developed quite a bit the last 10-20 years.

I agree when it comes to the Borders, as well as other factors that Africanhope mentioned such as corruption, global markets, IMF and world bank rules, etc...

There are countries that are trying to ratify the situation, such as East Africa. The attempt to unify Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda forming the EAC (East African Community) in economic and socio-political areas is promising and has helped the overall countries since the Goldenberg scandal of the 90's...

There are actual plans to have an East African Federation by 2010 which will have one president for all three countries. There are already East African passports available to east Africans... as well as a Legislative Assembly. These plans are far more realistic than the African Economic Community (AEC) which experienced serious sabotage since its creation in 1991 with the Abuja Treaty... Alot of blame is put on western countries, such as the US, UK, France and the Nederlands, out of fear that they would lose their exploitive hold on certain good that are dominated by Africa (Gold, Iron ore, cocoa, diamonds, etc) although they hold as much ground as UFO's...

Dude, there is more to Africa than the Sahara desert and 10-20 years of development.
The nomadic people who populated the areas other than Egypt were civilised, perhaps not in the European sense but they had cities that traded with Phoenicians, Egyptians and Romans. An African was once the emperor of Rome.
There were cities, Great Zimbabwe and Mapangubwe in the south spring to mind.
There is more to Africa than drought and there are more deserts than the Sahara - have you heard of the Kalahari and Namibia.
The Europeans upset the delicate balance of nature when they fenced large portions and divided it up into states. The things they did to Africa and the Africans are on a par with the decimation of the great tribes of indigeous Americans.
Google South Africa to look at what is here. You will also find sites with our history. The country is much older than the 14 years of its democracy, but it is a much nicer place to be now.

I am tremendously proud of what our democracy has achieved.
We could have had civil war and a Zimbabwean type of downward spiral if it hadn't been for the fact that everybody in the country wants it to work.
We have 11 languages and a lot more cultures than that.
We don't have all the answers yet but with our attitude, we stopped a lot more questions needing answers.
As some here said, the past is done, we can't undo it but we can learn from it.
For that reason, we will not interfere in Zimbabwe. It is a sovereign state, we do not invade other states and we do not tell other people how to run their own affairs. We will wait until Zimbabwe officially asks for help and then give them the help they ask for only.

But how can they officially ask for help when the problem is the guy in charge, the only one who can officially ask for help?

Anyway, I agree with Africanhope, while the actions of European empires did cause many problems, and indeed in the Cold War the west still interfered in many bad ways, nothing can be done about that. Things can be done about modern problems the west causes, such as the economic programs of the IMF, but most of the problems affecting Africa right now are either climatic, political or social, and the political and social can only be dealt with by Africans. The outside world needs to stop interfering in bad ways, such as arms dealing, forcing privatistation, and so forth, but even if they stop, there would still be corruption, tribal strife, etc, unless the people themselves stop it. As Agripinna points out, one reason South Africa is doing better than many other African states is due to the actions of the populace making things work.

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... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s

True it is the old story killing with kindness. It is far better to teach Africa how to handle its problems for itself, than to hand over weapons so they can kill each other. South Africa has to continue to stand out as a beacon of hope for the rest of the continent, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique might not be as wealthy as South Africa but they have stable governments and are prepared to have people help them in useful ways, if they continue to succeed, the northern part of the continent will follow. also remember Zim is in the hands of an old man, he won't live forever, a younger person will come in eventually and sort the whole mess out there too.