AFRICA/KENYA - “Don't blame only the West for Africa's poverty” said Fr Eugenio Ferrari, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Kenya commenting the G8 meeting, terrorism and poverty

Saturday, 9 July 2005

Nairobi (Fides Service)- “Even just the threat of an attack can damage the economy of a poor country like Kenya. In the end terrorism always strikes the ordinary citizens even those it does not actually kill” Italian Consolata missionary Fr. Eugenio Ferrari National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Kenya told Fides with regard to warnings in European newspapers following the bomb explosions in London of possible attacks in Kenya. “However the three main national papers here say nothing of possible attacks” the missionary said. “Naturally after the terrorist attacks in London which caused widespread dismay here, Kenya's police will have stepped up security measures in places at risk like airports”. Kenya has already been targeted by international terrorism. In 1998 the American Embassy in Nairobi was semi-destroyed by a car bomb explosion in which more than 200 were killed. In 2002 terrorists attacked a hotel Mombasa killing 15 people and tried unsuccessfully to shoot down an Israeli civil airliner with missiles.
Fr Ferrari welcomed the fact that despite the attacks in London “the G8 meeting adopted measures to support Africa, in fact fighting poverty is a way to fight terrorism”.
“However I do not agree that only the West is to blame for Africa’s poverty, as some Europeans naively affirm. “African countries have been independent for more than 40 years now. How is it possible that African political leaders have still not taken concrete measures for the development of their people, the poorest ones in particular?” the missionary asked. “Corruption in Africa must be eliminated to ensure that Western aid really goes to fund development programmes. For our part with regard to our modest contribution, we missionaries can honestly say that all the funds we receive truly go to those in need ”.
“Therefore economic resources alone are not enough to help Africa and the Middle East. What is needed is democracy, certainly suited to the local cultures with a process “inculturation” of democracy so to say” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/7/2005 righe 34 parole 390)


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