Europe’s debt to Africa goes back a long way

YOUR columnist Steven King’s negative comments on NGOs and Bob Geldof in asking for monetary aid for an impoverished Africa shows his lack of understanding of the situation (Irish Examiner, July 19).

Mr King needs to be reminded that Europe from the 18th century onwards plundered Africa’s riches and departed, leaving behind a bewildered and uneducated population incapable of governing themselves.

It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that Africa ended up in anarchy and chaos.