It’s Time for Africa’s Stolen Artefacts to Come Home | Think Africa Press
April 7, 2014
Politics Africa, Africa's Stolen Artefacts, Gambia, peter singhateh, The Monuments Men Leave a comment
It’s Time for Africa’s Stolen Artefacts to Come Home | Think Africa Press.
“In a recently-released film, The Monuments Men, in which a group of Second World War soldiers embark upon a mission to save pieces of art before they are destroyed by the Nazis, Lieutenant Frank Stokes, played by George Clooney, notes: “You can wipe out an entire generation, you can burn their homes to the ground and somehow they will still find their way back. But if you destroy their history, if you destroy their achievements, then it is as if they never existed.”
While in London to publicise the film, this basic premise was given contemporary significance as the all-star cast touched a sensitive nerve by suggesting it was time for Britain to return the so-called Elgin Marbles to Greece. Some British commentators hit out at the actors’ suggestions of repatriating the huge marble sculptures and pieces of architecture ‘acquired’ by Lord Elgin from Athens in the 19th century, while the Greek government expressed their “heartfelt thanks” for the show of solidarity…”
Illicit Financial Flows: The Elephant in the Room at the EU-Africa Summit | Think Africa Press
April 7, 2014
Politics Africa, Conflict, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment
Illicit Financial Flows: The Elephant in the Room at the EU-Africa Summit | Think Africa Press.
“A $35 million mansion in California, artwork totaling €18 million ($25 million), and a $33 million dollar private jet.
These sound like items purchased by the world’s wealthiest oligarchs, Hollywood actors or investment bank CEOs, right?
Well, they were actually acquired by Teodorin Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang. When Teodoro convenes with other leaders for this week’s EU-Africa summit, a wide range of topics will be covered, but there’s one issue in particular that should be given a loudspeaker during the talks in Brussels: illicit financial flows.
Africa and Europe have a unique financial relationship. It is one marked by illicit capital flowing out of African countries and into bank accounts in financial centres across the EU. While the younger Obiang’s official salary is less than $7,000 per month, he managed to spend more than $315 million between 2004 and 2011 on sports cars, beachfront mansions, lavish apartments, and even some Michael Jackson memorabilia. And Teodorin is just the tip of the iceberg….”
Peter "Just Loves Flying" 