International Economic Law: (Southern) African Perspectives and Priorities

impact on development through aid, they must be willing to support responsive governments, rather than rewarding those that fail to be responsive. A different question, rather than why has aid failed, would be what can drive development in Africa? As the responsibility for developing the countries of Africa can lie only with Africans, and in particular with those in leadership positions driving the development agenda, this is an important distinction. Aid can only support the implementation of well-judged and sensible policies, and can neither buy them, nor be a substitute for them. To use a current analogy, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cannot be stopped by NATO or the US donating arms to Ukraine, it can only be stopped by the bravery of Ukrainians, their determination to hold their attacker at bay, and the strategic skill of Ukrainian political and military leaders in addressing the invasion. Where these are present, the donations of arms from NATO and the US can support the mission – where they are absent, no amount of arms donations could be effective in slowing or blocking the invasion.