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Christian Science Monitor and Voice of America
Africa correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and Voice of America, based in Ajuba, the capital of Nigeria
PROFILE
Heather Murdock
Guest
FROM Heather Murdock
To the Point
Insurgent Leader in Nigeria Says He Will Sell Girls as Slaves In the Nigerian village of Warabe, eight girls, aged 12 to 15, were kidnapped today by the Boko Haram. The Islamist militant group is said to have ties with al Qaeda. On a video released yesterday, its leader, Abubakar Shekau, claims responsibility for kidnapping at least 223 school girls several weeks ago, plus the girls that were seized today. We get an update from Heather Murdock, Africa correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and Voice of America , who's based in Ajuba, and from Bronwyn Bruton, Deputy Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council .
To the Point
Should Western Values Be a Condition of Foreign Aid? Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has broad support in Uganda for a new law imposing sentences up to life in prison for homosexual acts. Nigeria and many other sub-Saharan nations also have anti-gay laws. Such harsh anti-gay laws in African countries have the US and other donors threatening to reduce foreign aid. Norway, Denmark and the World Bank have withheld or diverted some $110 million in aid. President Obama says the US is "reviewing ties." Is it right to withhold food and medicine based on acceptance of western values? Will attaching strings to foreign aid make targeted leaders stronger than ever? Will African soldiers continue to protect western interests? Finally, does aid do more harm than good by making nations dependent? Would the money be better spent to help them help themselves?
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