A Word from Africa No.24
Reflections on the Pope's Apostleship of Prayer General intentions
In two of the Pope's Monthly Intentions from May to August, we are invited to pray with him that Christians may be ready to read the signs of the times, so as to work for the common good. Each country of Africa has its own hopes and its own perils. Some, like Somalia and Sudan, have troubles that are conspicuous; others, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Ivory Coast, can look forward with some hope to more peaceful times. But until the African Union can achieve a genuine unity and stability, we have to pray that all will be vigilant for signs of danger to their freedom and prosperity
One such sign can be perceived in the billions of dollars being poured into a number of African countries by China, in the shape of investment, trade and aid. Innocent and benevolent as that may sound, the South African president has warned against the danger of Africa's falling into a colonial relationship with China. Added to the danger of economic dependency leading to political influence and ideological power, there is the treat to developing countries of perpetuating their roles as providers of essential raw materials such as oil, copper, timber and uranium, whilst remaining the indigent market purchasing finished goods at a price they themselves cannot match.
Lest it be thought that such a sinister interpretation is a flight of imagination, we need only to look at the suffering of the people of Darfur, which is being prolonged by the support being given to the Sudanese government by China - which already holds huge interest in Sudan and is the recipient of vast quantities of oil and cotton. So we pray that the signs - clear for all to see - may be interpreted wisely and courageously by all African leaders on whom lies the responsibility of preserving the freedom and developing the prosperity which their people long for and deserve.
James Fitsimons SJ