A new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) draws attention to the fact that rich countries are increasingly using aid money to advance their energy interests in Africa.The report argues that: “There are very clear signals that security concerns and energy politics are again shaping the policy debates on aid and development; another scramble for African resources, however, is no more likely to generate a successful development path than in the past.” Quite right! Using aid money to subsidize the expansion of the international oil industry is a perversion of international assistance and UNCTAD should be congratulated for raising the issue.

Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation that would bar some international companies from receiving U.S. government contracts if they continued to do business with Sudan. The bill is an attempt to put pressure on Sudan to do more to end the genocide in Darfur. Rep. Barbara Lee told reporters: “This bill is designed to wash the blood off our federal contracts.’’ Oil companies such as the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation are among those that would be affected by the legislation. Sudan’s oil has fueled instability within the country and has frustrated efforts to solve the conflict in Darfur. Sudan is one of China’s key sources of oil in the region and many believe that this largely explains China’s reluctance to take a strong stand on Darfur in the Security Council.