Sir, - Burundi is not unique in today's Africa. it is an extreme example of what is happening throughout the continent. I worked in Sierra Leone in the 1970s and have watched that country slide into the anarchic nightmare in which it now finds itself. The list goes on: Rwanda, Liberia, Sudan, Somalia, etc.
The cause of the problems is mainly that of political failure in these countries. Dictatorships, or more usually kleptocracies, took control and exploited the resources for themselves. The level of foreign aid was falling since the end of the Cold War, because the major powers had lost interest in Africa. It was no longer in anyone's interest to prop up a corrupt or unpopular (usually both) government, or to "arrange" for a new one.
This lack of interest in Africa on the part of the bigger powers could be used to the continent's advantage, if some country would take up the challenge. What African countries need, above all else, is stable government. Africa is bursting with natural resources. Because it is no longer of strategic interest, it might now be possible to draw up a set of proposals or principals governing relations between the EU and African countries. These would set down criteria for dealing with governments and would put particular emphasis on their acceptance by their citizens and their human rights record.
We cannot go in and get rid of despotic governments, but we can make it very difficult for them to continue in power. How long would the disgraceful regime in Nigeria last if Shell stopped buying its oil?
Europe is the biggest single trading bloc in the world we are closest in proximity and history to Africa. Ireland is uniquely situated in that our involvement in Africa has, and continues to be, positive and welcome; we have no colonial tails. Can we not use our position in the EU to develop a humane and enlightened policy towards Africa? It shouldn't be that difficult - nobody else seems interested. - Yours, etc.,
Market Square,
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.