G8 leaders met at the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm to assess the state of global affairs and the economy and, among other things, to assess progress made with regard to commitments to fighting poverty and Africa’s economic renewal.
President Thabo Mbeki told local newspapers and radio stations that the honouring of commitments and pledges made towards Africa was of the greatest importance. “We haven’t asked for more financial aid. We just want to see previous commitments honoured,” he said. But it seems little has changed over the years. While African leaders called on the G8 leaders to honour pledges of aid to the continent, G8 leaders stressed the need to curb corruption and improve governance.
With discussions focused on aid for the developing world, the final day of the summit turned to how the richest nations can assist Africa and work with emerging powers from the so-called “Plus Five” group – Brazil, China, India, Mexico and SA.
The summit ended with the leaders of the world’s richest nations promising to help stamp out poverty in Africa. The final day of the summit was also characterised by African leaders and aid groups accusing the G8 of reneging on a promise to increase development aid to the world’s poorest continent by €25 billion (about R243 billion) a year by 2010.
But these leaders hold out little hope that the club of rich nations will agree to significantly step up aid to Africa. Following the summit it emerged that certain G8 countries are tired of the promises of aid to Africa and don’t want to support it.
Back home the sentiment was much the same. National African Farmers’ Union president Motsepe Matlala agreed nothing came out of the G8 summit: “It is a talk shop that should not be allowed to continue. When looked at in a holistic sense, the G8 is not in a position to contribute to the development of Africa, because such a contribution is not in their best interest.
“Their only interest lies in the raw materials produced on the continent, which benefit them. Once the goods they’ve manufactured from these materials reach the country of their origin the people who live there can no longer afford the finished product.”
He said it was up to Africa and the Southern African Development and Economic Community regions to find a way to solve the continent’s problems: “Why should the so-called rich countries decide on the rest of us when we see sharp-minded people like President Mbeki frustrated with the summit?”
Dr Tobias Doyer, CEO of the Agricultural Business Chamber, warned against the general feeling of dismay: “The president is right when he says that we face a real problem and that we should realise other countries won’t help us out of a sense of solidarity. We have to stand on our own feet. We have a responsibility towards the international community as do they have a responsibility towards us. Promises were made and they should be kept. It is a privilege to be invited to have our say at the summit. It is important that we advocate Africa’s cause. If we do not, we will wither away in the current inequality.
“Africa has been treated shabbily and the outside world doesn’t want to get involved, but certain aspects need to be addressed. The problems won’t disappear if we ignore them. The G8 summit can be disheartening, but we need to be pragmatic. Political processes take a long time to get everyone on the same page. We need to persevere if we want to improve the current situation,” he said. – Cornelia du Plooy
