Letters: African problems are world problems
Re “Africa violence points to peacekeeper limitations,” Dec. 26
The “African solutions for African problems” policy highlighted in this article has found many Western champions, including isolationists and guilt-ridden anti-colonialists who argue that true self-determination for Africans means a complete absence of outside interference. This mind-set has allowed for the mass murder of millions.
The reality is that there is no separating outside powers from African conflicts; our economic interests are catalysts for much of the continent’s bloodshed.
Congo’s minerals are critical for the global electronics industry and have fueled the country’s horrific violence. Sudan’s oil powers the Chinese and Russian economies and has been a focal point for two decades of war.
It is high time for us to stop passing off African conflicts as the result of petty tribal feuds and to recognize that the global nature of our economy mandates the global reach of our humanity.
Vaughan Meyer
Los Angeles
The writer sits on Jewish World Watch’s board of directors.
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