Why don't we want to know what is happening in Africa?

I was reading somewhere the other week about yet another outbreak of violence in the Eastern part of the Congo and wondering whether there was another war in the offing. Just another local outbreak, a few more women horribly raped, and everything calms down again? I can find little up-to-date information (and yes, I can read French!).

A summarised history of the Congo since independence courtesy of the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13283212

I should add that the West poured in millions during the Cold War, and while the millions poured in its leader Mobutu Sese Seku got extremely rich while the country's infrastructure rotted. This is not the only example of dictators around the world seemingly enriching themselves on Western aid (see Mubarak in Egypt, Suharto in Indonesia).

You wonder why though more isn't done to stop this sort of thing while it is happening (thorough and proper accounting rather than discovering the truth years after it has happened). The aid is needed and I do not want to see it stopped, but it should be invested in projects to help people help themselves out of poverty (so they will not need more aid in the future), not to help corrupt leaders build palaces and invest in Swiss bank accounts.

IMHO the West needs to be proactive in its dealings with African countries rather than continuing to follow the policy that seems to have been in place forever, namely we only do something when something drastic occurs. The issues in Somalia and Darfur should have deserved far more than a shrug of the shoulders a long time ago.

I was pleased to hear that Charles Taylor had finally got his just reward, but why did it take so long to get there, and why was he able to get away with what he did?

I think that the founding principles of the United Nations are admirable, but its failures in Africa are palpable for all to see, and an organisation far more aware of events and far more ready to take preventive action is required.

Quite how this can be done and what is required is not easy to define, but the constant turning of our backs and shrugging our proverbial shoulders does not show us in a good light. There is a lot of potential in Africa, and many people with great abilities that could be used in a forward-looking, positive manner. They deserve better from us.