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DANGOTE’S REFINERY NEEDS POLITICAL COVER
AFRICA’S WAR
Your optimism and pessimism are well understood [‘Aliko of Africa’s $19bn bet, TAR 117 Oct.-Dec. 2021], especially as a Nigerian, these are quite rife with the populace. However, our country is one where the dynamics keep changing, and no single individual holds the sway in our polity ‘forever’. While I admire [Aliko Dangote’s] passion, I equally pray he doesn’t offend the pretorian guards and their principal, who constantly keep the levers of power. Emmanuel Edirin Nigeria
Like many Ethiopians and global citizens, I am puzzled by the concerted, calculated Western media campaign against Ethiopia. The news that Addis Ababa is about to fall has been going on for weeks. But we are still here. Now they have run out of options. We have lived long enough to observe many countries fall largely because of interference by Western powers. I have a feeling that Ethiopia will be the last attempt they are going to make because Africa is waking up. African media is beginning to stand up to Western media – they are saying: “This is not just Ethiopia’s war; it is Africa’s war.” We (Africans) let down Libya. It was not the responsibility of the French or English or Americans to get rid of Gaddafi. It should have been the Libyans themselves. We kept quiet when Western powers created the mess. I just hope we don’t repeat the same mistake! Amdissa
GREEN POWER The current African contribution to global warming is miniscule. Even if all African states fully harnessed their carbon-based energy sources, the contribution to global warming would still be south of 10%. Notwithstanding, we can find solutions that are win-win. For example, part of the investment to
encourage clean energy sources could be channelled to Africa so the continent can act as a carbon sink. Mbatshi Mazwiduma Botswana
GADDAFI FAMILY If [former leader Muammar Gaddafi] had spent the squandered billions of dollars
over the many years in power on Libya’s infrastructure, and on it’s people instead of his ego ... possibly ... he and his family and the Libyan people would have avoided all of the hardship and chaos that the country and it’s people are enduring. Hussein Azzabi Libya
LAGOS’S GRIND In this congested city, sleep-deprived young Nigerians brave traffic in the small hours for pay barely sufficient to get by. Many of these jobs are unreasonably demanding. Why do these young Nigerians remain working under these kinds of conditions? Joseph, Nigeria
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THEAFRICAREPORT / N° 118 / JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH 2022
