Africa’s Drug Problem

Post by Shar-Narne' Flowers, Great Decisions student


A few weeks back we had our lecture about global crime presented by Dr. Bruce Bagley, a professor of International Studies at Miami University. In it, he focused on the drug trafficking occurring between the United States and Mexico/ Latin America. A little over a week ago the New York Times published an article (found here) where, instead of focusing on the drugs passing through the U.S. / Mexico border, the article describes how drug lords have begun to target struggling countries within Africa in order to increase the drug trade between the producers in South America and users in Europe.

As explained in the article, the tiny country of Guinea-Bissau has emerged as a vital midway point for drug trafficking operations. Although there are many factors as to why the country has begun to participate in such an illicit activity, such as an unstable economy and political system, the most significant contributing factor is the fact that many citizens of Guinea-Bissau live in extreme poverty. Guinea-Bissau’s GDP in 2008 was $848 million - among the lowest in the world. In comparison, the GDP for the United States for the same year was 14.441 trillion (Sources: Guinea-Bissau and United_States). These high levels of poverty unfortunately create an easy environment for the drug lords to come in and take residence. The financially distressed citizens are eager to use the drug trade as an opportunity to provide for their families and even use it to gain status within their communities. And the impoverished government does not have enough funds available to adequately take action against the drug siege.

I find this article to be interesting because it shows just how globalized the drug trade actually is. The article even mentions that globalization is a force that Guinea-Bissau is powerless to defend itself from, as “…producers will find a way to deliver all things insatiably desired, whether good or bad.” The main force, I think, that is driving the drug trade is the money, not the drugs themselves. And I think that is important to keep in mind. I feel that the best way to combat illegal activity is to pay attention to the factors causing people to feel as if participating is the only viable way to get out of their dismal situation.