Editor's choice: Africa's tragedy
LONDON, 17 FEB 2003--The fact is that Africa is a tragic place. Unbelievably tragic. It is racked by war, corruption, AIDS, famine and repression. Yet Africa's leaders do very little to alleviate this situation. And when they get the chance to take action against the obvious misrule of one of their number, they let him off the hook with platitudes and a pat on the back. Africa's political leaders - with a tiny handful of exceptions - are worthy of little but international contempt. They are a cosy mens club - and they are ALL men - whose members only look after their own.