Army Rapist Of Guinea

This report on the government sanctioned raping in the street of women pro-democracy protesters in Guinea, is possibly the most disturbing account of how close most African societies are to tribal barbarism. This despite a veneer of 50 yrs of 'independence' and self rule.

I won't attempt to paraphrase the women's accounts of the attacks, which are harrowing in the extreme, but sadly these sorts of event occur with depressing regularity in Sub Saharan Africa.

Western politicians barely remark on it.

Right from Wrong

This story hardly needs comment, but following the news that a quarter of all native South African males are admitted rapists, then maybe its no surprise to find that some Liberian immigrants to the US can act as badly, even though they are only aged nine to fourteen, and that four boys have been charged with the gang rape of an eight-year-old Liberian girl.

The girls parents have "disowned" her, for "shaming them" ........... they should be sent back to Liberia (although they probably wouldn't want them).

An African Hero For Our Times

Yes, there are some Africans fighting corruption, and this story about Richard Karyea in Liberia refusing a bribe (1,300 times greater than his salary), and reporting drug smuggling is heartening.

Asked why he refused "It wasn't difficult to turn down the money, If it took me 50 years to earn that money, I'd want my conscience. I will always want my conscience"

Sadly, his colleagues in the customs office obviously disagreed and he was made redundant shortly later....... hmm.

However all ended well when he ended up in a better job as deputy chief examiner at the ministry of finance, and was made Civil Servant of the Year 2008 and given a $1,000 (£700) prize by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.