Letter to the Editor, The Guardian, 26th October 2007

Sir,

While it is shocking that since 1990 the amount spent on wars in Africa is equal to the amount of aid given (Report. October 11), what should also be noted is how much is lost to corruption. Oxfam’s report, Africa’s missing billions, states that $150bn has been spent on wars, while the same figure has been sent as development aid.

But according to the African Union, almost the same figure is lost to corruption every year. That means that over $2,500bn has been put into back pockets all over Africa in the past forty years. This is the real blockade to development.

John O’Shea
GOAL UK