South Sudan has caught disease that ails Africa

By Mugambi Nandi

Africa is rich in natural and human resources, yet our enduring story for the last fifty years has been one of famine, disease, poverty, conflict and corruption. This sad story is interspersed with the occasional positive story – such as those of great people like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, and a few others. It is a story we have written ourselves for the larger part.  The scramble for Africa about a century ago had nothing to do with illuminating the “dark continent” with the light of the gospel and civilisation. It was about resources. The interest China currently has in Africa is not driven by philanthropy and a benevolent, if communist, urge to share their resources with Africa. It is about exploiting the resources in Africa. Dictators in Africa (as elsewhere) seek to perpetuate their stay in power because it grants them access to and control over national resources. And although we have not had the ignominy of producing a Hitler, it is not for want of aspirants.