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Commentary: African leaders, corruption and colonialism

For centuries, the African continent had endured exploitation and manipulation by European countries. After Mali's rich kingdom dissolved, natives experienced the brutal treatment of England's class system, racism and brutality. Countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Congo/Zaire, South Africa, Namibia, Rhodesia and Angola suffered through Europe's imperalist practices. England, France, Belguim, the Netherlands and Portugal relied on "handlers" to run their armies. One of these handlers became legendary for his brutality, corruption and oppression.

Idi Amin:

The former, British boxing champion got his first taste of war during Kenya's Mau Mau Rebellion (1953-1965). When he was a sargeant, Amin tortured several rebels to death. His tactics fit in nicely with England's severe hand at defeating the Mau Mau "terrorists" during their dirty war. After the emergency concluded, he was sent to Uganda. He rose within the army to general. Uganda's president, Thomas Obote, tried to manipulate Amin to be his personal ally. When Amin began having political ambitions, Obote orchestrated an elaborate trap. He attempted to have his general arrested. However, a secretary, who was sleeping with Amin, gave up his plan. Amin sent his army to arrest Obote who already fled to Singapore for seven years.

Britain bestowed their colony to someone possessing an elementary education. They bestowed their colony to a serial killer. Amin overthew the King of Buganda in 1974. After nominating himself as "President for Life", his reign of theft and terror began immediately. He murdered officers and men from rival tribes, so to enlist his tribesmen. He also created an intelligence and death squad network called the State Research Bureau. He murdered Ugandan civilians by the scores. He used fiendish means like bludgeoning people to death with hammers, wrenches and clubs. His soldiers bayoneted and blown up prisoners with grenades. They ran over people with tanks, and machine-gunned "suspected guerrillas" to create an image of Amin as a heroic fighter. In 1975, he expelled all Asians (East Indians) from Uganda with his 90 day decree. All Asian property was turned over to his Ugandan allies. All Asian monies were turned over to Ugandan-owned banks. Those who didn't vacate were subsuquent tried and executed for "treason". When England declined to give him weapons, he turned to the African nation of Libya. He declared himself Muslim and supported the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization).


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