Breakfast at Tiffany's – Because I Do Not Know

Coming to America

Ibrahima Cherif, a refugee from the Ivory Coast, says all the Western money in the world won't help Africa -- at least not as long as we continue to reward the despots and dictators who thrive there.

When eight wealthy nations pledged this month to give Africa $50 billion in aid and debt relief, much of the world watched with hope.

African expatriate Ibrahima Cherif was not one of them.

Western leaders of the Group of Eight talked about ushering the continent out of starvation and the AIDS crisis, but Cherif was in exile in Albertville, on the run from the Ivory Coast. His president wants him dead because he questioned the man's credentials in 1993, Cherif says.

Just three months ago, Cherif -- a professor and government clerk -- was on his knees in the jungle, head down, hands bound behind his back with his necktie, a machine gun pointed at his temple.

He was told, "This is the day you will die."

The gratitude of a former student hired to kill him, the courage of a priest and the friendship of an Albertville businessman got Cherif out of the country alive, but ...

"The G-8 is a joke and the Live 8 concert is a joke because the money will never get to the poor people," Cherif said. "I've seen it happen before. The corrupt politicians and militia keep the money and the clothes and the food that people send.

"Many people want to help Africa, and almost no one understands Africa. It is broken, and I don't know how it can be fixed."

In the case, Africa is in the spotlight. But the same can be said about places across the globe. Money is not the cure-all. Instead, we must stamp out corruption and refuse to accept, as President Bush says, the bigotry of lowered expectations.

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2 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 6:18 PM
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2 Comments:

It's a sad commentary on the Western view, we figure if we throw enough money at a problem it will go away, we never seem willing to go in and get dirty to make the changes that need to be made.

By Matt S., at 12:20 PM

The changes, Matt, may require military force. Sometimes that's the only way. If it's a nonmilitary type of mission, the thugs will just come back when it's over.

FB, I would bet half the musicians who performed at Live 8 could find Africa on a map and the other half can't name four countries.

By Jake McCafferty, at 4:44 PM