DUBAI - Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu on Monday slammed African leaders for corruption and squandering their countries’ natural resources, calling on them to learn from their Gulf counterparts in how to develop their countries.“I’ve often felt a jealousy when I visit Dubai, visit Qatar and so on, and I see what leaders have done with their oil revenue,” the South African peace activist told a conference in Dubai.
“My heart aches when I think we have in Africa countries that are equally oil-rich and yet they languish in a debilitating poverty because of corruption at the top.”
Oil-rich Gulf states have embarked on massive spending programmes in recent years on the back of high energy prices as they look to diversify their economies and reduce dependence on oil and gas.
Regional governments have invested billions in infrastructure, industrial and urbanisation projects, which have given economic growth and thrust cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha onto the world stage, hosting international sporting and entertainment events.
Meanwhile, many any resource-rich African countries have been plagued by wars and corruption that have held back internal and foreign investment and stunted economic growth.
Tutu, renowned for his campaign against South Africa’s apartheid regime and outspoken criticism of African leaders, said those in power in Africa “seem to believe that leadership is for self-aggrandisement”.
“We look at Nigeria, we look at Sudan, we look at Zimbabwe and we see just how leaders can devastate their lands,” he said.
The 78-year-old archbishop is a high-profile campaigner to fight for human rights and against poverty and racism.
He is chairman of the Elders, a group of world leaders that campaigns on world issues such as poverty.
Other members of the group include Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Muhammad Yunus and Aung San Suu Kyi.