CORRUPTION & MONEY LAUNDERING: WHY FOCUS ON AFRICAN THIEVES BEHIND PRESIDENTIAL DESKS

Although corruption is a global problem, the focus must be on African thieves behind presidential desks, who continue to rule with an iron fist, thus violating the human rights of millions and jeopardizing the world's security. I will name six good reasons to support targeted actions against those African criminals behind presidential desks. 

First, the small size of African economies. Look at their expenditures level and you will be shocked. Here's an illustration: the State of California spends 10 billion dollars a year on corrections, which is several times the expenditures of many African countries combined!  Scores of African countries expect real revenues (discount foreign aid) far below 500 million dollars a year!

Second, a billion dollars stolen from an impoverished country makes a bigger dent to a smaller economy than it would to a trillion-dollar economy! Think again! The biggest mistake developed countries have made over the years was precisely to use foreign taxpayers' money to compensate for the billions of dollars African thieves behind presidential desks and their associates steal every year from their countries. Foreign aid has even encouraged those thieves to continue plundering their nations as free money from foreign taxpayers  became part of state revenues' forecasts! Shame on those non-profit organizations (whose expatriates enjoy good life in those countries recipient of foreign aid!) and others who continue to lobby their governments to obtain billions of dollars  in foreign aid for African countries run by tyrants, assassins, and thieves.  The stupid wars in the D.R.  Congo and the systemic looting of its natural resources by Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and some DRC's nationals speak by themselves!

Third, African thieves behind presidential desks and their very own politically exposed persons (PEPs) have created political systems based on widespread impunity. Those criminals control the three branches of government and such systems are the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of domestic and transnational organized crimes, including terrorism.  

Fourth, domestic organized crime is what really fuels transnational organized crime. In other words, although transnational organized crime is global, its local component is the sine qua non, i.e., the essential condition. Therefore, the fight against corruption must target African tyrants and accomplish three key objectives: degrade, dismantle, and destroy African tyrannies, the very source of the public-private corruption and money-laundering, its twin sister.

Fifth, It is no secret that African thieves have been shipping bulk money overseas for decades (now they prefer the 500 Euros banknotes!) besides using the traditional wire transfers and they will continue to do so as developed nations tighten their banking and anti-money laundering laws.  Controlling the activities of thieves' lawyers, real estate agents, escrow agents, foreign governments' lobbyists, offshore corporations, banks, corrupt non-profit organizations or charities, etc. will only solve part of the equation. The core of the problem remains in those countries run by African thieves behind presidential desks.

Sixth, degrading, dismantling, and destroying African tyrannies and the impunity-based system they have institutionalized will benefit not only Africans but the rest of the world as well.  Such system is a serious threat to our civilization and humanity. It is that perverse system the core of much of transnational organized crime and the breeding ground for terrorism.

All tools in the foreign policy toolbox must be used to degrade, dismantle, and destroy African tyrannies. From public shaming to targeted sanctions against tyrants, their politically exposed persons (PEPs), and all those who actively labor to perpetuate tyrannical systems in Africa. Sanctions shall include and not be limited to assets freezing, withdrawals of visas, travel ban, and elimination of all forms of foreign aid towards African countries run by dictators and dictocrats. Our civilization and humanity is at stake.


Read my May 30, 2016 opinion at Voice of America; http://www.voanews.com/content/senegal-court-to-deliver-verdict-in-habre-case/3351571.html


Other links:



http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36274302

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/may/12/david-cameron-london-anti-corruption-summit-live

http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-could-face-barbs-anti-corruption-summit/3326360.html

 

PANAMA PAPERS SEARCHABLE DATABASE & AFRICAN THIEVES BEHIND PRESIDENTIAL DESKS

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has now published the Panama Papers searchable database.
To find out some of the African thieves behind presidential desks and their very own Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), go to: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org.


According to the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, PEPs include and are not limited to: "any current or former official in the executive, legislative, administrative, military, or judicial branches of a foreign government whether elected or not; senior official of a major foreign political party; senior executive of a foreign-government-owned commercial enterprise; a corporation, business, or other entity that has been formed by, or for the benefit of, any individual; an immediate family member (including spouses, parents, siblings, children, and a spouse's parents and siblings) of any such individual; a person who is widely and publicly known (or is actually known by the relevant bank) to be a close associate of such individual".


VOA opinion at: http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-heads-to-europe-for-anti-corruption-summit/3321334.html




Click on this link to find out who is who among African thieves behind presidential desks and their associates: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org


Note: To avoid detection, some of these thieves and their associates are linked to other countries. Therefore, you will not necessarily find them under their countries of origin. You may enter the company these thieves control or are beneficiaries of, then you will be surprised to which countries they are linked!!!

WHY AFRICAN DICTATORS ARE MENTALLY ILL – DIAGNOSTIC IN 6O SECONDS

If you watched the latest Jerry Seinfeld’s episode (aired on December 30, 2015) just for comedy, the laughter would only last 19 minutes. However, if you are a human right activist and a democracy advocate, you will conclude that 60 seconds of that interview (minute 13:40 - 14:40) might change the history of the African continent. Once Africans realize that they have been led not only by a bunch of felons, but by a bunch a crazy felons, i.e. criminals who should have been locked up into psychiatric facilities rather than being left free to insanely rule over millions, then tyranny would come to end in most of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here is the link to the full video: http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/president-barack-obama-just-tell-him-you-re-the-president.

The 60 seconds run from minute 13:40 to minute 14:40. Watch carefully and ponder on powerful words used in that 60-second segment.

Link to full Video:

http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/president-barack-obama-just-tell-him-you-re-the-president

Watch from minute 13:40 to minute 14:40.
Excerpts:
Jerry Seinfeld: How many world leaders do you think are just completely out their mind? (Translation: How many world leaders do you think are just completely crazy?)
Barack Obama: A pretty sizable percent!
Jerry Seinfeld: How many of these people you must meet, then you keep chatting and you see in the eyes, you look into the eyes and you go: "Oh this guy is gone!" (Translation: mentally ill, completely)

Barack Obama: And part of what happens is that these guys…I think the longer they stay in office, the more likely that is to happen.
Jerry Seinfeld: Of course, of course, they lose it, they lose it…
Barack Obama: And at a certain point, your feet hurt and you're having trouble peeing and you have absolute power!...
Powerful 60 seconds where privilege, money, power, and toxic effect of power on judgment are discussed.
As a new year 2016 approaches with African tyrants clinging to power and re-running for president, Africans must carefully watch these 60 seconds to build a sense of urgency to end tyranny for good and start building nations respectful of human rights and human dignity.


P.S. If the link moves in the future, you can still watch the full video at http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/31/461583459/seinfeld-and-obama-driving-a-stingray-and-getting-coffee


Other links:
https://profiles.google.com/118241085854924540090/buzz
http://projects.voanews.com/african-presidents/
http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-appears-comedian-seinfeld-web-series/3126440.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/ugandas-museveni-re-elected-president/3199595.html
http://www.voanews.com/content/president-zuma-apologizes-for-spending-scandal/3265745.html
http://www.voanews.com/content/cameroon-opposition-protest-president-biya/3267016.html
http://www.voanews.com/content/new-benin-president-talon-sworn-in-/3273132.html
http://www.voanews.com/content/african-presidents-giants-club-summit-pledge-stop-elephant-poaching/3308828.html


To find out how those "career criminals behind presidential desks" (I am the first human being to coin this expression)  have ripped off their own countries and foreign taxpayers, visit my previous blog posts where I discussed the absurdity of foreign aid. You might also want to read the Panama Papers that have flooded the Internet depicting those criminals' modus operandi to rip off their own citizens and naïve foreign taxpayers. Click below for the latest from the World Bank:  

http://www.voanews.com/content/world-bank-director-panam-papers-revelations-hurt-economies/3286249.html


(04/30/2016)
Those interested in the historical connections between the dictatorships of Rwanda, Uganda, and the two Congos and international terrorist organizations, the following links show how African tyrannies are a serious threat to world's security:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/12/30/digging-up-congos-dirty-gems/1cfa01f6-e23f-46d0-94f4-64d95c971517/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/911507.stm
https://www.globalwitness.org/en/archive/lebanon-diamond-imports-republic-congo-overshadow-kimberley-bid/
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/25/world/kisangani-journal-where-war-is-forever-the-diamonds-are-cheap.html

My message has always been this clear: dictators and dictocrats are the most serious threat to our civilization. The civilized world and foreign taxpayers must stop baby-sitting Africans tyrants. In light of the threats African dictators and dictocrats pose to humankind, it is time not only to degrade but eradicate tyranny across the African continent by considering all means necessary and taking concrete and targeted actions against the enemies of humanity, i.e., those career criminals behind presidential desks in Africa.

TOWARDS THE BLUEPRINT FOR DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA

The people of Burkina Faso have raised the bar by setting a standard for democracy and governance in Africa:

(1) No impunity for any individual who committed a crime against the state through the seizure of power by force, rebellion, fraudulent elections, tailored constitutional changes to remain on power to avoid national and/or international prosecution, or any other means including political and financial alliances with domestic and foreign criminals to initiate or perpetuate tyranny;

(2) Individuals and political parties that promoted tyranny must be barred for life from participating in politics and holding positions in Government;

(3) Politically exposed persons and organizations, who were, have been, or are directly or indirectly affiliated with tyrannical regimes, should also be barred from politics for life;

(4) All foreign governments whose anti-money laundering laws have been violated by African dictators, tyrants, and their associates have the moral obligation to take the lead in prosecuting these corrupt individuals, even if they are still on power. Public shaming pays off and now is the right time to show support to the African people by taking and publicizing targeted actions.

P.S. I first published this opinion at the Voice of America's website on October 2, 2015

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkinabe-want-justice-after-coup-leader-surrender/2988506.html#hash=relatedInfoContainer

Other reflections on the same topic can be found at: 
http://www.voanews.com/content/democracy-activists-push-against-african-autocrats/2999997.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-freezes-assets-of-failed-coup-leaders/2980356.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-coup-leaders-agree-to-peace-deal/2975088.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-coup-leader-president-pm-safe/2968883.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/nigerian-president-promises-to-recover-stolen-funds/2839578.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-scrambles-to-pick-leader-before-deadline/2522552.html

OU ETAIENT CES PARVENUS DU POUVOIR ET OU SONT-ILS ?

 Où étaient les Kabila, père et fils, Boshab, Lambert Mende, Kengo  et compagnie et tous les autres opportunistes et parvenus du pouvoir quand je dirigeais des manifestations publiques contre le régime Mobutu à Lubumbashi en février et mars 1982 ?

Où étaient-ils quand, comme leader et à la tête de plus de 2.000 étudiants protestataires, j’affrontai en mars 1982 des centaines des militaires de Mobutu, lesquels, armés jusqu’aux dents, pouvaient à tout moment pousser sur la gâchette et causer un bain de sang au vu et au su de Nestor Mpeye Nyango, Mandungu Bula Nyati et toute la clique mobutiste de l’époque, y compris un certain Vundwawe Te Pemako, prédecesseur de M. Mpeye Nyango à l’UNILU ?

Où étaient ces parvenus du pouvoir quand je décidai de continuer le combat contre la tyrannie à Kinshasa, au fief même de Mobutu avant son auto-exil à Gbadolite? Où étaient-ils quand je m’opposai au Sénateur belge Robert Close en direct et en face des caméras de la télévision nationale et internationale contre le déploiement des missiles Pershing sur le territoire du Zaïre ? Sans aucun doute, certains de ces parvenus du pouvoir m’applaudirent au Palais du Peuple à Kinshasa, d’autres me serrèrent la main à la sortie et me félicitèrent pour mon courage et encore d’autres s’interrogèrent  comment j’osai prononcer le mot le plus banni du discours politique au Zaire et devant la télévision nationale et internationale: dictature.

Où ont-ils étés tout ce temps que je sensibilise la communauté internationale contre la criminalité transnationale organisée dont les Congolais sont victimes des mains de ces petits diables en forme humaine (« little devils in human shape ») qui dirigent le Rwanda et l’Ouganda, de ces mauvais Congolais qui sont toujours prêts à trahir leur peuple et leur nation pour quelques milliers ou pour quelques millions de dollars en pots-de-vin et de ces investisseurs hors la loi se nourrissant, comme des parasites, d’abondantes richesses du Congo ?

Où étaient ces parvenus du pouvoir à l’époque et où sont-ils actuellement?

P.S. Général Robert Close était venu à Kinshasa pour convaincre le régime Mobutu à installer les missiles Pershing. Le dictateur autorisa la réunion avec les militaires et la diffusion télévisée et en direct de la conférence au Palais du Peuple. En fait, le tyrant avait besoin de ces missiles pour prolonger son régime durant la fameuse Guerre Froide. Erreur: celle-ci s'acheminait lentement et sûrement vers sa fin!

OPEN LETTER TO WORLD LEADERS

Dear World Leaders,

Human trafficking is the tip of the iceberg of a colossal monster known as transnational organized crime. What really lies beneath is a vast corruption network that has impeded human development and denied Africans the first two basic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy.  

From the utilitarian perspective, is there any African country where the greatest number of natives have their physiological needs met and feel safe? The answer is a categorical NO. That place is hard to find for African “Hitlers” have chosen to rein terrorizing their people, violating their fundamental human rights, and posing a serious threat to world security.

It is no secret that, following the non-stop looting in the colonial era, most of Africa has fallen for the past five decades into the hands of dictators, tyrants, and career thieves, whom I often call “little devils in human shape” or “career criminals behind presidential desks”. These are the infamous street criminals who prey directly on Africans to feed invisible mafias around the world with stolen goods, dubious contracts, a wide range of other illicit goods and services, and transfers of billions of dollars every year from the countries they help loot!

Death by hundreds drowned in the Mediterranean Sea and xenophobia in South Africa are the two events that will shape forever what I dare call “Africa’s Civil Rights Movement”. They have sent a clear message to the international community that those rights will be attained only with global cooperation to degrade, dismantle, and destroy those little devils coated in human skin who have victimized millions of Africans and forced them to flee abroad to meet at least two of their basic necessities: physiological and safety needs.

Now is the time to think out of the box and act intelligently by supporting Africa’s Civil Rights Movement. Focusing on the tip of the iceberg while ignoring the root of the problem will only achieve one thing: temporarily eliminating the symptoms and not solving the real problem.

P.S. I published this article on April 22, 2015 at:

 http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/20/the_mediterranean_migrant_crisis_by_the_numbers/

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/22/end-poverty-stifle-happiness-mdgs-mediterranean-eritrea/

AFRICANOMICS: THE PRICE TAG OF AFRICAN TYRANNIES

When the current unnamable dictators of Rwanda and Uganda invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1996 to kill, rape, and loot DRC’s natural resources, nobody had a clue that the United Nations peacekeeping force sent to the DRC in 1999 would cost foreign taxpayers in the developed world 1.3 billion dollars a year and for at least the following 16 years.

Now let’s do the numbers. The United Nations have spent over 21 billion dollars in the last 16 years to run a force of 22,000  uniformed personnel and carry out a series of military operations there to stop the looting and killings sponsored by Rwanda and Uganda. If we have to put a partial price tag of these two tyrannical regimes, 1.3 billion dollars per year (roughly over 21 billion dollars inflation adjusted for the past 16 years) is the most conservative figure to start with.

Source:  http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/monusco/facts.shtml)

To this initial price tag of just two African tyrannies, which by far is only a tip of the iceberg, we must add human lives lost as a result of wars sponsored by Rwanda and Uganda inside the D.R. Congo.  Again, there is no hidden secret here: those wars have caused the death of over 5.4 million Congolese, mostly in eastern Congo. Several thousands of women were raped by Rwandan troops, Ugandan troops, the DRC government troops, and rebels armed by Rwanda and Uganda. Congo’s natural resources have been systematically looted in the meantime. Organized crime at unprecedented proportions in recent world history!

The list of atrocities by these two career criminals behind the presidential desks of Rwanda and Uganda has been well documented by the United Nations and other independent sources.  Here is just a sample of what the world knows so far:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/794496.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/16/world/rwanda-and-uganda-battling-to-control-key-city-in-congo.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/28/f-vp-macinnes-rae-congo.html?cmp=rss

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=574&p1=3&p2=3&case=116&p3=5

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843

www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/DRC_MAPPING_REPORT_FINAL_EN.pdf

No doubt, the price tag of African tyrannies is too high for foreign taxpayers and for Africans themselves. We are dealing with career criminals behind presidential desks and the civilized world can no longer afford subsidizing African tyrannies directly or via the United Nations.