Africa - Looted, Pillaged and Plundered

  Africa is the birthplace of Homo Sapiens and the land of plenty. It is the richest region in terms of natural resources. And human capital. Home to over 1.3 billion people but with over 500 million people living in extreme poverty. As a consequence of its impoverishment and the unbearable load of external debts, the abuses of world trade, the continued exploitation, the induced corruption, and the severe droughts and floods, Africa is now home to 1 in 2 humans living in extreme poverty, and hunger.

The continent has also the highest suicide rate in the world. Mental health problems affect 116 million people in the African region, up from 53 million in 1990. The continent also has six of the top 10 countries for suicide in the world, while for each suicide in Africa, there are an estimated 20 suicide attempts. African governments allocate less than 50 US cents per person to treat mental health problems, says WHO. This is well below the recommended 2 US dollars per person for low-income countries. In Africa there is only one psychiatrist for every 500,000 inhabitants, mostly working in urban areas, leaving rural communities without any support. This is 100 times below the WHO recommendation.

The illegal exploitation of precious metals and minerals such as gold, silver and diamonds, are fuelling the extremists that control extraction, and trafficking routes. 

The vast Sahel region in particular has become "home to some of the most active and deadly terrorist groups", says Ghada Waly, the Head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

• Illegally mined gold and other precious metals are being fed into the legitimate market, providing huge profits for traffickers;
• Wildlife trafficking has also been reported as a possible source of funding for militias, with the illegal trade in ivory alone generating 400 million US dollars in illicit income each year;
• Around 3,500 victims of terrorist acts in sub-Saharan Africa last year, nearly half of those recorded worldwide;
• Such criminal exploitation strips the people of Africa of a significant source of revenue. It robs the millions of people who depend on these natural resources for their livelihoods. And it fuels conflicts and exacerbates instability.
• Mineral supply chains are often linked to child abuse, human trafficking, forced labour and other human rights violations... With 60% of Africa's population under 25 years of age, young people are both the future of the continent but also its most vulnerable citizens.
• The world scientific community has repeatedly informed that while Africa produces between 2% and 3% of all gas emissions, the continent carries the burden of over 80% of all climate catastrophes, 

No wonder then that tens of thousands of Africans continue to attempt to escape poverty and hunger, fleeing in search of jobs that allow them and their families to survive. Many hundreds of them drown at sea. Those who manage to survive continue to be prey for human traffickers who force them into 'modern' slavery, sexual exploitation, etc.

Those who finally reach European lands are now being deported, shipped to countries with high records of human rights abuses in exchange for money.

Africa, the Looted Continent - allAfrica.com