A DECADE IN Africa

The 10-year anniversary of two monumental events in African history passed last month with little international attention. \nIn 1994 South Africa held its first general elections after the end of apartheid, bringing to an end nearly a century of institutionalized racism and discrimination. In the same year, Hutu civilians in Rwanda took up arms against the country's Tutsi population and carried out one of the worst genocides in modern history. Western leaders from nations that had chosen not to intervene or even acknowledge the genocide in Rwanda were notably absent from the 10-year memorial service held in Rwanda to commemorate the victims. Their absence underscored much of the uneasiness and apprehension that continues to define the relationship between Africa and the West.\nSouth Africa has flourished lately in comparison with many African nations, including Rwanda, but it is still haunted by extreme disproportionate wealth distribution and a new scourge: AIDS. South Africa has the largest population of HIV-infected people in the world. A report by the South African Department of Health in 2002 estimated that there were 5.3 million out of a total population of 45 million South Africans infected with HIV, of which 280,271 were babies, who acquired the virus from their mothers.\nSouth Africa has successfully transitioned through three democratic elections since 1994. While in Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the rebel leader who overthrew the government that instigated the genocide has been the country's de facto ruler since 1994. Rwanda is gradually recuperating from the mayhem that befell it, but with few natural resources, a frail economy and little international assistance, Rwanda's recovery is proving painfully slow. \nJohn Hanson, chairman of the African Studies Program, said African countries have often been overlooked or misrepresented by the media but added that the same is true of much of Asia and South America. Hanson said the media's lack of attention on Africa stems from the assumptions that African states are largely helpless and that their populations are inclined to ethnic violence. Hanson said both assumptions are gross falsifications of reality. \n"Africa even though it is a region of great mineral wealth and oil, has not been perceived as having the same kind of economic leverage in the world. Therefore it is seen as powerless. The news media does not treat it as a major partner in the world," Hanson said. \nDespite the lack of media coverage Hanson said that students increasingly seem to know more about African countries and discard many of the generic stereotypes associated with the continent.\nMaria Grosz-Ngate, associate director of the African Studies Program, said it will be difficult for many African countries to develop their economies. \n"Globalization is structured in such a way that Africa is disadvantaged. Africa depends on resources and agricultural commodities it exports. The prices for these are skewed." Grosz-Ngate said, "The way the international economy is structured does not work well for eliminating poverty rapidly."\nGrosz-Ngate said Africa may continue to be marginalized as the world's attention remains fixated on the crisis in Iraq and as developed countries focus more on their own depressed economies rather than those of Africa.\nIbro Chekaraou, a Ph.D. graduate from Niger, said the majority of African states have adopted democracy but have failed to implement it fully. Public participation and scrutiny by Africans could help curb embezzlement by government officials and encourage accountability.\n"The prospects of development in Africa lays in democratization," Chekaraou said.\n-- Contact nation & world editor Rami Chami at rchami@indiana.edu.