Brazil Continues to Forgive Debts of African Dictatorships

Spanish Translation of the Week

The Brazilian government has decided to continue forgiving the debts of African countries including Zambia, Tanzania, the Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the knowledge that these countries' dictators face charges of misappropriation of funds, embezzlement, corruption, money laundering, and genocide in Europe and the U.S.

"El gobierno brasileño ha decidido continuar con el perdón de la deuda apaíses africanos como Zambia, Tanzania, Costa de Marfil y la República Democrática del Congo, después de haberlo hecho ya a las cuatro naciones en las que están al frente conocidos dictadores que enfrentan procesos en tribunales de Europa y de los Estados Unidos, acusados de desvío de dinero público, enriquecimiento ilícito, corrupción, blanqueo de dinero y genocidio."

This article has been translated from Spanish. Click here to read the original version on El Pais  

The governments of the Republic of Congo, Sudan, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea account for half of the continent's public debt to Brazil. The opposition has criticized the government's decision to forgive dictators' debts as they keep their people in poverty while accumulating personal wealth. "It's an insult to societies that have protested in the streets against corruption. These are corrupt leaders," said Senator José Agripino of the opposition DEM party.

In contrast, Senator Eduardo Braga of PMDB, the party aligned with the government, defended the government's decision. He said that "Brazil has economic interests in African countries. If these dictators commit crimes against humanity or corruption, the mechanisms and institutions that deal with these matters will do their part. They are different issues."

Ethics and Philosophy Professor Roberto Romano believes that Brazilian diplomacy is wrong to support and encourage countries with complicated regimes from the point of view of ethics and international law. "Throwing stones on the international stage doesn't create credibility," he said.

From a business perspective, the Brazilian government, experts say, is interested in offering debt relief to these countries so that the Banco National de Desarollo Económico y Social (BNDS) can finance Brazilian venture capital projects in these countries. The problem is that Brazilian society has become less tolerant of political corruption and does not look favorably upon the idea of supporting dictators with taxpayer funds lest they be seen as corrupt themselves.

Brazilian politicians have been especially limited by a society that has grown economically and educationally, and which is also more sensitive to ethical issues. The title page of Brazil's largest newspaper, O Globo, read: "Dictators Forgiven," commenting on the government's controversial decision.

Article translated by Joshua Lacey, Staff Intern for the African Program at the Wilson Center

Photo attributed to Office of Governor Patrick, on Flickr Commons