In an interview with Dutch newspaper Straatnieuws on November 6, Pope Francis highlighted the importance that agreements with governments be clear and transparent.

He is quoted as saying: “Once I asked a question to a minister in Argentina, an honest man – one who left his post because he could not reconcile himself with various obscure aspects. I asked: ‘When you give assistance in the form of meals, clothing or money to the poor and needy, what percentage of what you send arrives?’ He answered: ‘35 per cent’. This means 65 per cent is lost. It is corruption: A cut for me, another cut for you.”

The Pope said it was crucial “to avoid corruption as there is always the temptation to corruption in public life, both political and religious”.

His reflection came just five days before the start of the Valletta migration summit where European Union and African leaders agreed to implement the EU’s €1.8 billion emergency trust fund to help African countries in their development and encourage them to take back nationals who had migrated to Europe.

The fund seeks to address the root causes of irregular migration and displaced people in Africa. It is being described as additional funding and a new contribution to a flexible, speedy and efficient delivery of support to so-called ‘partner countries’ to foster stability and contribute to better migration management.

More specifically, it aims to address the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration, by promoting economic equal opportunities, strengthening resilience of vulnerable people, security and development. These laudable aims, however, need to be accompanied by efficient and effective measures to ensure all the available funds are invariably invested in projects designed to address the root causes by contributing towards the educational and economic development needed for those who reach working age to see a sound future in their own country, sustained by peace and stability.

All available funds should go towards educational and economic development

If such management is lacking, there would always be the risk that, in certain cases, a substantial portion of the funds end up being channelled, for instance in places where violent conflict is still raging, or waiting round the corner, to keep soldiers happy and/or to buy more arms. Dealing with the arms issue is very important. Between 2010 and 2014, Africa received nine per cent of all global arms deliveries. This was the lowest among all regions. However, it was a 45 per cent increase over 2005-2009 and states in sub-Saharan Africa received 42 per cent of all imports to the continent.

Of course, in some cases, arms are used legitimately for defence or peacekeeping operations. However, in many other situations they fuel conflict. According to popular belief, Africa’s civil wars, one of the major migration push factors, are due to ethnic and religious diversity.

Yet, experience shows that the relatively higher incidence of war in Africa is not due to such elements but, rather, to high levels of poverty, failed political institutions and economic dependence on natural resources.

In normal times, many of different ethnic and religious convictions manage to live together and remain friendly, without major problems. But as soon as conflict arises, many end up taking sides. All of a sudden, neighbours who lived together in mutual respect become enemies and personal persecution raises its ugly head. Such dire circumstances offer very fertile ground for organisers of irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking. They exploit it without any scruples.

More than one observer argues that the best and fastest strategy to reduce the incidence of civil war in Africa and prevent future conflicts is to institute democratic reforms that effectively manage the challenges facing Africa’s diverse societies.

What is needed, they argue, are the promotion of intergroup cooperation in Africa, specially tailored political governance and economic management institutions.

Charles Buttigieg was Malta’s first refugee commissioner.

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