Africa News
Conflicts cost Africa 284 billion dollars in 15 years
Oct 11, 2007, 15:56 GMT
New York - Fifteen years of continuous conflicts have cost African nations 284 billion dollars in gross domestic products, Oxfam International said Thursday in the first analysis of war effects on the continent's local economies.
'Armed violence is one of the greatest threats to development in Africa,' said Oxfam policy adviser Irungu Houghton. 'The costs are shocking.'
The analysis said war and insurgency costs on average 15 per cent of an African economy and the whole continent could lose annually 18 billion dollars because of armed conflict.
The analysis was made to help the UN debate on an arms trade treaty. It was put together by Oxfam, Saferworld and IANSA, which are non-governmental organizations devoted to relief assistance, end conflicts and weapons trade.
It said 95 per cent of Kalashnikov rifles, the weapon of choice used in African conflicts, have been imported from the outside.
Between 1990 and 2005, twenty-three African nations were involved in conflict, the groups said.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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SP4: I understand perfectlyOct 12th, 2007 - 02:40:28
After all, if they did not have those niggly Kalishnikov's, everything would be just fine!
I wonder what these people would say if THEY were trying to free themselves?
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