African Wars Cost $300B Over 15 Years

Fighting drained as much money as aid programs contributed
By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:39 AM CDT
African Wars Cost $300B Over 15 Years
Sudanese soldiers plunder for leftover goods at an African Union camp, Haskanita, northern Darfur, Sudan, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. Rebel forces stormed a small African Union base in northern Darfur killing 10 peacekeepers from the beleaguered mission in an unprecedented attack that threatened key peace...   (Associated Press)

Armed conflict in Africa over the last 15 years cost nearly $300 billion—equal to the total amount of  aid received by the continent—a report compiled by several NGOs concludes. Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who wrote the report's preface, says that a key move to counter poverty and spur development will be to "restrict the supply of guns to African conflict zones."

Even after the sooting stops, economic disruption and the need for steep military spending contribute to hinder African development. The report calls for a global arms treaty, saying that although the number of conflicts is declining, stubborn wars in Sudan and Somalia (More Africa stories.)

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