ARCHIVE OF BRIEFS PRIOR TO 2004
AFRICA LOOTED OF $140 BILLION
Africa has lost $140 billion through corruption in the decades since independence, says
Nigeria’s president, Olusegun Obasanjo. The huge sum, largely spirited away by leaders
and their associates, was one of the main reasons why Africa’s poverty was so severe.
(BBC News, June 13, 2002)
AFRICA'S HALL OF SHAME
In May 1997, the French Weekly Newspaper published these stolen assets of African
rulers: General Sani Abaca of Nigeria, 120 billion FF (or $20 billion); former Ivorian
President H. Boigny, 35 billion FF (or $ 6 billion); General Ibrahim Babangida of Nigeria,
30 billion FF (or $ 5 billion); the late President Mobutu of Zaire, 22 billion FF (or $ 4
billion); President Mousa Traore of Mali, 10.8 billion FF (or $ 2 billion).
Other names mentioned by the French Weekly were President Henri Bedie of Ivory
Coast, 2 billion FF (or $300 million); President Denis N'guesso of Congo, 1.2 billion FF
(or $200 million); President Omar Bongo of Gabon, 0.5 billion FF (or $ $80 million);
President Paul Biya of Cameroon, 450 million FF (or $70 million); President Haile Mariam
of Ethiopia, 200 million FF (or $30 million); and President Hissene Habre of Chad,
20 million FF (or $3 million). Bear in mind that this list does not reflect the actual amount
of money stolen out of Africa by these dictators. Factually, the mentioned figures had
changed significantly since the French Weekly article was published in 1997. There are
now new African billionaires and millionaires, including indicted former Liberian President
Charles Taylor, President Gabassinga Eyadema of Togo, former Liberian Warlord Alhaji
Kromah, former Ghanaian dictator Jerry J. Rawlings, and the late President Samuel Doe
of Liberia; a host of African government ministers would make an updated list. While
returning funds stolen out of Africa is the right thing to do, efforts must be made by the
West and responsible African governments {i.e. the government of Botswana, etc.} to
alter international banking laws that will make it difficult for Africa's government officials
and corrupt business personalities to transfer huge funds into western banks. The
measure was first proposed following the September 11, 2001 attacks but was rebuffed
by western financial institutions. Again, we need to revisit this issue: the terrorists could
use the thieves in Africa's government Ministries to transfer money into western bank
accounts—the money could be used at a later time for terrorists' activities.
(Paul Japheth Sunwabe) Paul Japheth Sunwabe (a native of Liberia) is a graduate
student of World Politics at The Catholic University of America. He is also the
co-founder and President of Freedom and International Justice, a Washington DC based
inclusive political organization seeking democracy, social justice and economic reforms
in Africa.
For this and subsequent articles, please visit www.freedomjusticef54.org/articles/
DONORS SHIFT MORE AID TO NGOs
A major shift in funding development in Africa is accelerating. Major donors have been
urging African governments to eradicate corruption or face cuts in aid.
(African Recovery, by Sam Chege)
MOBUTU AMASSES $5 BILLION
Despite the country’s abundant natural resources, including copper, gold and diamonds,
the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to sink further into poverty.
Meanwhile, Mobutu, the late president who died in 1997, amassed a personal fortune of
$5 billion, which was deposited in Swiss banks.
(CNN world news, September 7, 1997)
ABACHA, THE MAKING OF A DEAL
After more than three years of legal wrangling, the Nigerian government has finally
achieved a major breakthrough in it’s efforts to recoup a substantial amount of money
looted by the former president, General Sani Abacha. The money was stored in Swiss
bank accounts. Abacha, who died of an apparent heart attack in 1998, had been accused
of stealing nearly $3 billion from state funds in a series of staggering revelations of how
he and his immediate family personalized Nigeria’s treasury.
(This DAY, May 30, 2002)
FORMER PRESIDENT CHILUBA AMASSES $2.5 BILLION
An excellent way to get rich quick is to be the ex-wife of an ex-president. This is what
Mrs. Vera Chiluba is claiming from ex president Chiluba in her application to Ndola High
Court: She wants US$2.5 billion in a lump sum, and claims she can prove he has the
funds available. She also requires maintenance for their nine children, none of whom are
in gainful employment. She also needs a share in 6 properties in Ndola and a commercial
farm in Chi samba. Also she needs a new executive Mercedes Benz 500 (or 600), a new
Land Cruiser, a new Nissan Patrol, drivers as well and a court order for the return of 400
cattle, sheep and goats which are still at State Lodge.
This was taken from the Zambia Post and was also reported in The Zambia Society
Newsletter compiled by the glamorous Maggie Currie.
Are African presidents the only ones so clever in accumulating wealth so quickly? Even
ex president Marcos of the Philippines didn’t get hold of such huge amounts in such a
short time. (Elias Georgopoullos, Saturday, April 27, 2002 at 12:52:22 PDT)
A CASE OF ABJECT WICKEDNESS IN VERY HIGH PLACES
The French journal, ‘L’Evenement du jeudi published an article stating that the president
of Cameroon, Paul Biya, is worth more than $45 billion FCA, money gleaned from the
sales of petroleum. Mr. Biya has not refuted these claims.
(Post watch Fact File report by Ntemfac Ofeae, undated)
THE COST OF THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY AFRICAN DICTATORS
The late president Mobutu of the Democratic Republic of Congo holds the record for
financial plunder and national ruin. It is estimated that he stole $4 billion, leaving the
country poorer than he found it, with ruined infrastructure and no formal economy to
speak of.
A close second to Mobutu is the late dictator of Nigeria, Sani Abacha, whose rule left
70 percent of Nigeria’s 120 million people living on less than one dollar per day. In
Kenya, the Daniel Arap Moi dictatorship must be given credit for the systematic
destruction of what used to be Africa’s economic showcase from the 1960s through the
70s. The authoritative Africa Confidential put Moi’s external bank holdings at $3 billion.
In the so-called Goldenberg scandal, the Moi regime bolted with an estimated $1 biliion
from its own central bank (12 percent of the national’s GDP), setting off a spiral of
inflation, economic stagnation, unemployment, crime, ruined agricultural sector and
decaying public services. (Testimony on the social and political costs of the theft of
public funds by African Dictators: US House of Representatives Committee on Financial
Services by Michael Chege, University of Florida, May 9, 2002)
BUDGET LEAKAGES
Recent surveys carried out by the World Bank in a series of developing countries to
compare budget allocations to actual spending at the facility level have confirmed that
resources are not allocated according to underlying budget decision. In Uganda and
Tanzania, large parts of funds were diverted elsewhere or for private gain.
(U4 Utstein Anti corruption resources centre website)
MINISTERS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH DISAPPEARANCE OF FUNDS
Peter Machungwa, Home Affairs Minister, Godden Mandandi, Works and supply
Minister were arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the disappearance of $2
billion in government funds.
(Business Day, October 24, 2002)
WITNESS KILLED
Paul Tembo, former deputy minister of Finance, was shot dead in his home hours
before testifying in corruption trial of three cabinet ministers. (BBC News, July 9, 2001)
REPORT IDENTIFIES POLICE AND POLITICIANS WITH CORRUPTION
Zambian police and politicians have been identified to be the worst corrupt elements in
the country. (AllAfrica.com, March 1, 2001)
ARCHIVE: 2006 - 2004 CORRUPTION BRIEFS