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G8 leaders and Africa
By Moshood Laoye
Thursday, May 8, 2008
G8 leaders closed their annual summit with $60 billion in
pledges to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. But the move
did little to stem criticism of the world’s leading
industrialized nations for failing to honour promises made
two years ago to double official direct assistance to Africa.
Summit host, Chancellor Angela Merkel says G8 leaders resolved
to make good on pledges to increase aid to Africa by $25 billion
a year by 2010. Naturally after two days, all of the problems
of the world have not yet been solved, but moved a step forward,
she calls G8 talks with heads of state from Egypt, Algeria,
Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria a very candid and open discussion.
We said that on behalf of the countries of the G8, we are
aware of our obligations and we would like to fulfill the
promises that we entered into and we are going to certain
expectations.
Africa expects the G8 to deliver on its promises on Africa’s
part, we are committed to also deliver, he says.
Live Aid founder, Bob Geldoff and U2 rocker, Bono met with
G8 leaders at this year’s summit in Heiligendamm to
press for a more binding commitment to Africa.
Dismissing the summit as a grotesque pantomime, Geldoff said
the leaders of Britain, Italy, Canada, the US, France, Russia,
Germany and Japan should be ashamed. Do a favour, get serious
guys. This wasn’t serious. This was a farce, a total
farce, Geldoff says.
Africa obviously, understand if they think that rock stars
might not be able to add and subtract or spell and read, but
there’s some people around here who can, Bono says,
accusing G8 leaders of engaging in bureaubabble to hide hat
he says is their failure to help Africa. Because the $60 billion
money already promised and is spread over an unspecified number
of years, the ant-poverty group Oxford says it should be seen
for what is: a small step when we need giant leaps.
Wrapping-up his last G8 summit, the British Prime Minister
says leaders made immense progress in boosting African peacekeeping,
education, better governance and support for African trade
and commerce. He thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
for promising to make Africa a priority of the next G8 summit
in Japan.
The Global fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria will receive
between $60 billion pledged. The fund’s executive director,
Dr Michael Kazatchine welcomed the announcement. This is a
strong G8 Leaders, a threefold increase from the current level
as part of their recommitment to universal access to treatment,
is very good news.
About half of the $60 billion will come from the US. President
Bush has already asked Congress for $30 billion over the next
five years to fight HIV/AIDS. He also announce an African
financial sector initiative to mobilise up to $1 billion in
privately-managed investment funds to provide technical assistance
to resolve structural impediments in Africa’s financial
sector.
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