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Thanks for the article. The article below should not come as a surprise. USAID/Western foreign aid in general (a joke/embarrassment) should be abolished except for health, education and food relief in time of crises. In the case of the USA, the Overseas Private investment Corporation (OPIC) should be the key with grants and low interest loans to get American companies to invest - but salaries based upon PPP (Purchasing Power Parity - salaries, given cost of living that will help create a middleclass) and environmental regs. It should not take American workers' jobs away, but where unique natural resources exist - there needs to be some degree of transformation in Africa - if not - waves of poverty into Europe and South Africa - crime and economic chaos that will also affect America. Same can be said for Latin America.
At least China is investing in health and education - still Sudan needs an economy that will employ people so they can feed their families. If we want to win in the long-term - it won't be by sending in muscle-bound special ops types - it will be through sending in our private sector.
Look at China's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa (See attached) - where is ours????????????? OPIC not AFRICOM should be the spearhead of our foreign policy in Africa - Business - that's how China is outcompeting the USA and France in Africa. If I was Africa I would go with the Chinese since after 50 years of Western donor support - where is the development??? - in DeGeorges & Reilly (2008): "the Western donors spending US$ 116 billion between 1960 and 1986 in Sub-Saharan Africa, the equivalent of 9.7 Marshall Plans; Guest (2004) estimating the equivalent of six Marshall Plans". We know that 70-90% of the donor money goes back to the donor country's NGO's, experts, Beltway Bandits (consulting firms), duty free household goods, buy America requirements, kids or diplomats/experts in private schools anywhere in the world, learn to love America trips for the political elite, etc. with little reaching the poorest of the poor.
It is all about oil/natural resources. In the long-run, unless Africa calls the shots, I don't expect China to be anymore benevolent that the West has been towards Africa!
Regards Andre
South Sudan Secures China Grant for Development Projects
Posted by Ivy Mungcal on 26 October 2011 07:08:49 AM
China will provide $31.5 million to support education, health, agriculture and water supply projects in South Sudan, the Chinese ambassador to the newly independent African country has announced.
Ambassador Li Zhiguo added that Chinese and South Sudanese officials are exploring other potential development projects the Asian country can support in Sudan Sudan, the Sudan Tribune reports.
The grant was announced following a meeting in Juba, South Sudan, between Li and Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the African country's minister of information and broadcasting. South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, meanwhile, is set to visit China in December for more development and aid related talks.
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