Foreign Aid & Civil Society | United Nations

“Is the UN Colonizing Africa?” asks the BBC

In a sure-to-be controversial piece, the BBC’s Africa “analyst” Martin Plaut asks: “Is the UN Re-colonizing Africa.” Unfortunately for the BBC, Mr. Plaut’s ignorance of the UN seems to be exceeded only by his lack of knowledge of Africa.

He says:

Frequently one is left with the impression that UN officials know at least as much, if not more, about countries than government ministers, many of whom spend more time nursing their political careers than their constituents.

It is hard to escape the conclusion that if Africa is not being re-colonised by the UN, then it is certainly being run at least as much from New York as it is from most of the continent’s capitals.

For starters, the UN can harldy “run” itself let along entire countries, and its officials spend just as much time nursing their careers as the politicians Mr. Plaut mocks. For all their experience in Africa, these officials still know precious little about actually getting something done - witness the utter lack of “development” after decades of aid, foreign interventions, and UN presence.

The article is even further off the mark on Africa, exaggerating the problem far beyond realistic proportions. The UN has 50,000 troops in 7 African countries - but how many African countries are there? The UNHCR, according to the report, looks after 2.5 million people, but the continents population is over 680 million. Hardly a pervasive presence?

Perhaps this is just not meant for consumption by the informed, and targeted rather at ignorant people who think the world starts and stops at their doorsteps, those within the UN with an inflated sense of self-worth, and those that don’t know better than to accept what they read. It is provocative posturing not worthy of the BBC, though it might increase traffic to their website.

As a rather more informed counterpoint, please see Nicky Oppenheimer’s (De Beers) opinion piece in the IHT (June 1, 2007).

The comments below the article are definitely worth reading. Two selections:

Ridiculous article. First of all, look up your history and read up on the actions of colonial powers in most of Africa before comparing it to the UN. Second, please quit with the irritating habit of lumping all African countries together. Third, if you are going to subject readers to your analysis, get some first hand information rather than cobbling statistics from the UN site.
Ada, Paris, France

Working with the UN everyday, I very much doubt they could colonize their own backyard. All the faith put into the UN by those who have never worked with them is desperatly misplaced. I had my idealism shattered when I first started working with them. They are more part of the problem, however defined, than they are ever part of the solution.
Henry, Nairobi, Kenya

Thanks to Hope for provoking this reponse (!), and Karan for the IHT reference.

© 2007 The Discomfort Zone.