(March 11, 2005) The prime minister, Tony Blair, today challenged the world to help to end the poverty, conflict and disease plaguing Africa. He called for huge increases in aid, debt relief and anti-corruption measures but admitted he still had to convince wealthy nations to pay their share.
World leaders address Africa with activist voice
(March 11, 2005) Their report, to be released in London today, calls for an immediate doubling of foreign-aid spending by rich countries to a total of $50-billion (U.S.) a year, cancellation of Third World debt and the end of subsidies and tariffs that cripple African trade.
Africa Commission report: analysis
March 11, 2005-Africa Confidential Editor Patrick Smith says the Africa Commission report faces an uphill struggle if it is to gain acceptance in the West and achieve its goal of raising living standards on the world’s poorest continent.
Campaigners demand creditors make details of claims against Iraq public
(March 11, 2005) Debt campaigners called on Iraqi creditor nations this week to make details of claims against Iraq public, so citizens of Iraq and the creditor countries concerned could assess the legitimacy of funding provided to the former regime of Saddam Hussein.
Nigerian foreign debt row
(March 11, 2005) This week, Nigeria’s parliament passed a non-binding resolution demanding the country suspend repayment of its US$35-billion foreign debt. On Tuesday, Nigeria’s House of Representatives moved to repudiate the external debt, the highest of any African nation, comparing Nigeria’s situation to that of “countries emerging from war.”
A conduit for corruption?
(March 10, 2005) The report of the Africa Commission is expected to call for rich countries, and particularly their financial services industry, to do more to fight corruption.
2005 budget: Senate ignores House of Reps
(March 10, 2005) Barely 24 hours after the House of Representatives moved to repudiate the nation’s estimated $38 billion foreign debts, the Senate yesterday voted N169.9 billion for debt servicing.
World Bank takes a bashing
(March 10, 2005) Senators and congressmen in the Philippines have denounced the World Bank for trying to impose its will on the nation’s Congress.
Crack-down on foreign bribery underway in major exporting countries
(March 10, 2005) Fifteen OECD countries making “promising start” in enforcing anti-bribery laws.
Obasanjo admits failure over debt relief
(March 9, 2005) President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday voiced his frustrations in his efforts to get debt relief for Nigeria over the past five years even as he supports a resolution calling for a stop to further payment of foreign debts.
Nigerian foreign debt row eases
(March 9, 2005) Nigeria’s debt burden remains stubbornly high.
Nigeria called to end debt payment
(March 9, 2005) Nigeria’s parliament has passed a nonbinding resolution demanding the country, Africa’s most-indebted nation, stop repaying its US$35 billion foreign debt.
Aminatta Forna: the West must own up to its part in African corruption
(March 9, 2005) The Africa Commission this week will finally acknowledge the West’s complicity in corruption.
Indebted nations must pay to play, creditors say
(March 8, 2005) The secretary-general of the Paris Club, Emmanuel Moulin, said the Club has never recognized the concept of odious debt due its difficult implementation as a policy.
Blair’s Commision For Africa Report Calls For West To Clean Up It’s Act
(March 7, 2005) The long awaited final report of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa calls on the developed world to help Africa curb corruption by cleaning up its own act, reports the UK’s Guardian newspaper.
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