Whenever the U.S. government enters into a state of fiscal austerity, politicians always look for budget cuts from programs they deem to be less important or have little or no constituency. Foreign policy budgets, especially those directed towards Africa seem to always show up near the top of that list.

A tiny collective of 115 islands off the east coast of Africa with a total population of less than 85,000 people, the Republic of Seychelles is part of a number of African countries trying to capitalize on recent democratic and market reforms. However, the country’s relatively small and tourism-reliant economy makes it an unlikely candidate for large sums of international capital.

Nonetheless, a high-ranking delegation was in New York City this week to promote Seychelles’ status as a business-friendly haven.

According to Pierre Laporte, the governor of the Seychelles Central Bank, the country is now reaping the benefits of major macroeconomic and structural reforms, including lower tax rates and investor-friendly policies. “Today Seychelles offers not only investment opportunities, but security for investors,” Governor Laporte told an audience of investors and analysts.

Thompson Ayodele and Roger Bate explain how nations across Africa can enjoy prosperity. In there latest article, they argue against more foreign loans and more focus put towards holistic programmes that foster the conditions that cause long-term prosperity and well-being.

The Uganda story is not simply about hateful white people going to Africa to infect the innocent black folk there. Yes, the conservatives who went there to spread their schlock did pour gasoline on a fire, it is important to remember that the fire was already there in the first place.

In Texas, more than 70% of corporations formed and registered by blacks in the Secretary of State office, are for non-profits [social entities for some lousy programs because Blacks have been convinced and shepherded into thinking that the way to go is to be ‘given’ something and all one need do is show up again next year and ask for some more – Oliver Twist mentality.

For the Africans, s/he is sold on NGOs, non-governmental organizations because for the West to undermine the integrity of some national governments, they have cultivated ways to circumvent the governments they want; giving something but never enough to make any positive difference. In turn, the unsuspecting African like her cousin in USA – America, has joined the ranks of beggars depending on the so called generosity of some God’s sent westerner with money. Deceptive practices of the highest order.

Racism is not the the sole domain of Republicans, Conservatives or Southerners. Not all racists pepper their conversation with the N-word or secretly desire the extermination of black and brown people. Racism is complex, multi-layered, and deeply rooted in the American story. Name calling is not helpful in uprooting racism, but neither is a false sense of moral superiority.

The time for Africa to unite is now, but the time to educate strategic allies is also now. I find most African embassies have very little presence within the U.S. This is not all African embassies, but a lot of them do fit into this category. They should be more engaged in the local communities, as well as the various media outlets. Most of the images you see regarding Africa are about war, famine, and despair. I put most of the blame on African nations for not countering these images conjured up by the media.

The crisis in Darfur has escalated into one of the worst displays of human rights crisis. In one of the most remote places in Africa, an insurgency began unnoticed under the shadow of the war in Iraq in 2003, killing 350,000 to 400,000 people in 29 months by means of violence, malnutrition, and disease in the first genocidal rampage of the 21st century.

One thing I have learned and noticed during my many trips to Africa is a lot of these attitudes are taught to Africans. They are taught that Black Americans are not serious people, they are criminals, and they should not be trusted. Most African’s only image of Blacks come from BET or the Hip-Hop community.

Dambisa Moyo, author of “Dead Aid: Why Aid is not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa.” The book argues that western financial aid to African countries has actually hurt instead of helped. Program from Sunday, April 5, 2009.