Africans of European, Lebanese and Asian descent (statistics and articles)

[Matthias Offodile]

WARNING: This should NOT be the departure point for senseless quarrels but simply serve as sheer information for the general public



European African (figures found on wikipedia)

Current total population

over 6 million
*Figure not include Europeans living in
European provinces or dependencies
(Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Réunion, Saint Helena etc.)

Regions with significant populations of European descent in Africa:


South Africa 4,360,000 - 5,687,000
Angola 120,000
Namibia 115,000
Morocco 100,000
Tunisia 100,000
Zimbabwe 60,000
Mozambique 50,000
Botswana 50,000
Senegal 50,000
Kenya 30,000
All other areas 138,000 - 445,000


PS: It is especially hard to find exact or even approximate figures of Africans of Lebanese or Asian (mostly Indian) descent....but I will keep on looking for it! I will also try to look for figures of the new wave of Chinese coming to Africa and for the Malay population in South Africa.

[GregPz]

There's 1,164,000 people of Asian descent in South Africa.

[Kenguy]

Emm zimbabwe...60,000??? Im surprised after what Mugabe did?

[Matthias Offodile]

Emm zimbabwe...60,000??? Im surprised after what Mugabe did?

Well, Wikipedia puts the figures at 60 000, other newspaper articles put the figures somewhere betwen 25 000-50 000!

Kenguy, can you post some figures or articles on the Indian community in East Africa, if you have time....it would be interesting to know. I heard something about an Ugandan film producer of Indian origin some time back on TV.

[Kenguy]

Well, Wikipedia puts the figures at 60 000, other newspaper articles put the figures somewhere betwen 25 000-50 000!

Kenguy, can you post some figures or articles on the Indian community in East Africa, if you have time....it would be interesting to know. I heard something about an Ugandan film producer of Indian origin some time back on TV.


I read in a past news article that the asian population in Kenya is roughly 80,000-100,000. Tanzania has approximately 30,000-50,000 which is also simmilar to Ugandas Asian population who have returned in large numbers following their expulsion by Idi Amin in the 70's. Total E.A. Asian population:roughly 200,000 though this is not an exact figure. I've also excluded the values for Rwanda and Burundi though I believe they arent very high.

[Mwafrika]

An article on the number of Brits living in Africa - They are not Africans of European descent but just interesting to see the stats :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/africa.stm

Top Countries
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/mwafrika/brits.jpg

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

Well, Wikipedia puts the figures at 60 000, other newspaper articles put the figures somewhere betwen 25 000-50 000!

Kenguy, can you post some figures or articles on the Indian community in East Africa, if you have time....it would be interesting to know. I heard something about an Ugandan film producer of Indian origin some time back on TV.

The Economist stated two years ago (along with SA newspapers) there were only 20,000 whites left in Zimbabwe, although more have left since then due to continued economic collapse. The Wikipedia number is similar to the Aug 2002 Zimbabwe census which showed 46,000 whites still living in the country at the time.

[SE9]

An article on the number of Brits living in Africa - They are not Africans of European descent but just interesting to see the stats :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/africa.stm

Top Countries
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/mwafrika/brits.jpg

Ah yes. I remember reading a news article recently stating that there were +40,000 British Citizens in Kenya.

[Matthias Offodile]

I read in a past news article that the asian population in Kenya is roughly 80,000-100,000. Tanzania has approximately 30,000-50,000 which is also simmilar to Ugandas Asian population who have returned in large numbers following their expulsion by Idi Amin in the 70's. Total E.A. Asian population:roughly 200,000 though this is not an exact figure. I've also excluded the values for Rwanda and Burundi though I believe they arent very high.

Kenguy, interesting to know! Africans of Indian origin in East Africa seem to be the largest Indian community within Africa (outside SA where "Grepz" puts the number at over 1 million).
The Indian community in Nigeria hovers somewhere around +/-20 000 (due to the Nigerian press articles I once read). It was pretty strong in the all the decades up to the 70´s/80´s , then it decreased ...but seems to increase now again (but the new ones are simply Indians who were not born in Nigeria and they do not have any personal attachment to the country)!

[Matthias Offodile]

I read in a past news article that the asian population in Kenya is roughly 80,000-100,000. Tanzania has approximately 30,000-50,000 which is also simmilar to Ugandas Asian population who have returned in large numbers following their expulsion by Idi Amin in the 70's. Total E.A. Asian population:roughly 200,000 though this is not an exact figure. I've also excluded the values for Rwanda and Burundi though I believe they arent very high.

Kenguy, interesting to know! Africans of Indian origin in East Africa seem to be the largest Indian community within Africa (outside SA where "Grepz" puts the number at over 1 million).
The Indian community in Nigeria hovers somewhere around +/-20 000 (due to the Nigerian press articles I once read). It was pretty strong in the all the decades up to the 70´s/80´s , then it decreased ...but seems to increase now again (but the new ones are simply Indians who were not born in Nigeria and they do not have any personal attachment to the country)!

[Kenguy]

Kenguy, interesting to know! Africans of Indian origin in East Africa seem to be the largest Indian community within Africa (outside SA where "Grepz" puts the number at over 1 million).
The Indian community in Nigeria hovers somewhere around +/-20 000 (due to the Nigerian press articles I once read). It was pretty strong in the all the decades up to the 70´s/80´s , then it decreased ...but seems to increase now again (but the new ones are simply Indians who were not born in Nigeria and they do not have any personal attachment to the country)!

The Asians numbers in East Africa were far greater than those today. However after independence, Kenya embraced the 'africanization' policy (more like SA's Black empowerment policy B.E.E.) that saw many asians lose their jobs in the civil service and a few farms to blacks. This triggered a mass exodus from the country and this may be the reason the asian community is predominantly urban. Kenyan asians now control a good section of the economy.

Im sure you know the Ugandan story where Idi Amin told all asians to leave the country for good in 48 hours during the 1970's. Many of these left for Britain and Kenya. Uganda under president Museveni saw a massive return of the exiled Asians. However, racial tension in this country is still evident where just last week, Ugandans of african descent held demonstrations against an asian company that boiled over into anti-asian racial riots.

Tanzania does not seem to have many problems over asians in their country.
On the whole, the asian community is still a closeted society- (they rarely intermarry and tend to live in areas that are predominantly asian), but they have also succeeded in integrating into the african social fabric-(they speak local languages and Swahili and have no problems associating with other communities in social settings.

[Kenguy]

Are the stats for Britons in Kenya only applicable to Europeans or also to Asians with British citizenship?

[Kenguy]

Kenguy, interesting to know! Africans of Indian origin in East Africa seem to be the largest Indian community within Africa (outside SA where "Grepz" puts the number at over 1 million).
The Indian community in Nigeria hovers somewhere around +/-20 000 (due to the Nigerian press articles I once read). It was pretty strong in the all the decades up to the 70´s/80´s , then it decreased ...but seems to increase now again (but the new ones are simply Indians who were not born in Nigeria and they do not have any personal attachment to the country)!

The asians numbers in East Africa were far greater than those today. However after independence, Kenya embraces the 'africanization' policy (more like SA's Black empowerment policy B.E.E.) that saw many asians lose their jobs in the civil service and a few farms to blacks. This triggered a mass exodus from the country and this may be the reason the asian community is predominantly urban. Kenyan asians now control a good section of the economy.

Im sure you know the Ugandan story where Idi Amin told all asians to leave the country for good in 48 hours during the 1970's. Many of these left for Britain and Kenya. Uganda under president Museveni saw a massive return of the exiled Asians. However, racial tensions in this country is still evident where just last week, Ugandans of african descent held demonstrations against an asian company that boiled over into anti-asian racial riots.

Tanzania does not seem to have many problems over asians in their country.
On the whole, the asian community is still a closeted society- (they rarely intermarry and tend to live in areas that are predominantly asian), but they have also succeeded in integrating into the african social fabric-(they speak local languages and Swahili and have no problems associating with other communities in social settings.

[popa1980]

I've heard 100-300,000 Lebanese in Ivory Coast. Noone seems to really know. 20-30,000 Lebanese in Senegal and only 2,000 in Ghana (many of them were kicked out in the 60s). 6,000 Lebanese in Sierra Leone.

[popa1980]

Watch this space. The Chinese are going to be a major immigrant group soon, for the better or worse, many Chinese are in Zambia now (and I just dont mean working for big Chinese companies)- some selling vegetables in the market etc....

[Kenguy]

Watch this space. The Chinese are going to be a major immigrant group soon, for the better or worse, many Chinese are in Zambia now (and I just dont mean working for big Chinese companies)- some selling vegetables in the market etc....

^^
Not just Zambia. I think its a continent-wide phenomenon. I dont know about North Africa but most countries in Sub-saharan Africa without a war and especially those with mineral wealth have witnessed a surge in chinese numbers.

[Matthias Offodile]

Watch this space. The Chinese are going to be a major immigrant group soon, for the better or worse, many Chinese are in Zambia now (and I just dont mean working for big Chinese companies)- some selling vegetables in the market etc....

It is very hard to get exact figures, A German well-established weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" put the number of Chinese people in Africa at above 800 000 (!!!). And it said that the community literally exploded in the past 5-10 years. My father told me than about 250 000 Chinese people live in Nigeria alone and more and more are coming into the country! Well, that´s what scientist call "global village"! China will become the superpower of our world, so this trend is unstopabale...maybe in 20 years time Chinese people will be in their MILLIONS in Africa.

[Matthias Offodile]

I've heard 100-300,000 Lebanese in Ivory Coast. Noone seems to really know. 20-30,000 Lebanese in Senegal and only 2,000 in Ghana (many of them were kicked out in the 60s). 6,000 Lebanese in Sierra Leone.

Ivory Coast has the strongest community of Lebanese or Africans of Lebanese descent in Africa and figures range as you mentioned between 100 000 - 300 000. (but it is hard to get exact figures) Ivory Coast first president was very open as far as immigration from abroad was concerned and maintained close ties to Lebanon....and then there was the Lebanon War.... But many of them are third or even forurth generation and have contributed heavily to Ivory Coast´s economic development.
The Lebanese community in Senegal is definitely higher than 20 -30 000. A Senegalse once told me that Lebanese are well integrated into Senegalese society. There is also a pretty strong Lebanese community in Nigeria and Gabon (but not close to the numbers you find in either Ivory Coast or Senegal)...and to a lesser extent there are also some Lebanese in Liberia (4000)...due to a BBC article which I will upload if I can find it again.

[Mwafrika]

Are the stats for Britons in Kenya only applicable to Europeans or also to Asians with British citizenship?

An educated guess is that quite a number of these will be Britons of Kenyan/Asian origin. Amazing pattern of immigration if u think about it - originally from Asia then to Africa then to Europe.

I assume that some of these numbers will also include Black Britons and Britons of Kenyan Origin. There's quite a large number of Kenyans living in Britain Approx 129,356 - 2001 census (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/kenya.stm) and I know quite a number who've taken up citizenship.

[popa1980]

I dont think there are more than 30,000 Lebanese in Senegal. Its a number I have seen repeated in numerous sources. Remember that it Senegal is only a small country.

The 2000 Lebanese in Ghana seems like an underestimation.

The Lebanese certainly are more integrated into African society than the Indians. If the Lebanese left Ivory Coast the whole country would collapse. Their numbers in Nigeria are less than you would expect and I think that is at least part due to the fact that Nigerians, esp the Igbo, have had long history of trade and commerce (unlike in, say, Senegal where the Lebanese could more easily dominate against inexperienced indigenous). people).

I would love to see more cosmopolitan African cities in the future with a wide range of races. All the world's great cities have this feature- London, NY, Toronto etc. I guess once the economies start growing, you will attract people from all over the world.

[popa1980]

250,000 sounds excessive for Chinese in Nigeria. Probably more like 50,000.

Zambia's official Chinese population is 2,000 though the real figure is supposed to be 30,000.

SA, 160,000 Chinese.

[mike2005]

The Zim figures are a huge exageration. Prob no more than 5,000 whites left in the country and 99% of them will be pensioners who cant get out as they have worthless assets.

[popa1980]

I heard a lot of the white Zimbabweans have moved either to Europe/Aus/NZ or to Zambia and South Africa.

[TooNs]

Current total population

over 6 million

Regions with significant populations of European descent in Africa:


South Africa 4,360,000 - 5,687,000
Angola 120,000
Namibia 115,000
Morocco 100,000
Tunisia 100,000
Zimbabwe 60,000
Mozambique 50,000
Botswana 50,000
Senegal 50,000
Kenya 30,000
All other areas 138,000 - 445,000

Thx Matthias!

-> But I disagree wth these stats of "Africans of european descent": It includes at the same time the afrikaaners (living in Africe for 4 centuries), european inmigrants and africans who toke some european citizenships for some countries, and excludes moorish people (living in Africa for 4 centuries too) and ppl who toke european citizenships in other countries.

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

I would not put a whole lot od stock in these Wikipedia stats that are speculative at best and Wikipedia is a joke when it comes to accurate stats.

It is fair to say that the figures for Angola and Mozambique are more likely to be 12,000 and 5,000 Europeans respectively. Angola might have more but most of these Portuguese are more likely to be Maçao Chinese who have been brought in to Angola because of their linguistic abilities but very few actual "white Portuguese" because of the colonial resentment of the MPLA government which still kicks out Portuguese foreigners from time to time.

As for the other countries the stats are outdated for Kenya, Senegal, Tunisia and Morocco by at least 20 years. As for South Africa I take the lower figure although the white population there is steadily declining due to rampant crime and fears about SA becoming another Zimbabwe some day. Stats SA in 2001 put the number at just under 4.3 million. I reackon it is closer to 4.0 million right now. It must be added that there are 600,000 South African's with dual British citizenship who could leave the country in a flash if they wanted to.

Here's my breakdown of stats for European Africans (I've added a few countries):

South Africa 4,000,000
Angola 10,000
Namibia 50,000
Morocco 20,000
Tunisia 20,000
Zimbabwe 10,000
Mozambique 5,000
Botswana 15,000
Senegal 10,000
Kenya 20,000 (citizens) + 25,000 British nationals
Swaziland 3,000
Mauritius 20,000
Gabon 10,000
Ivory Coast 2,000
All other areas: less than 100,000

[DennisRodman]

STUPID STATS

[Xusein]

During colonial times, Somalia had a large Italian community, nearing almost 50,000 at it's peak. Of course now, because of decolonization and civil war, it is nil now. At it's height, the Roman Catholic Church had a large presence in Mogadishu, for the colonists during the early 1900s.

But I think it's safe to say that the European population all over Africa has declined from it's peak long ago. Future non-African immigration will come from Asia from here on, it's already happening.

No Lebanese, but Somalia had a influential Arab community for a while. Most came from Yemen or Oman and intermarried with the local Somalis, making a large mixed population in some of the coastal cities. The war caused the majority to leave, but I'm sure there is still a few around.

[TooNs]

Morocco 20,000


Huh? There are at least 35.000 french citizens living in the only city of Casablanca... and the 100.000 of the 1st post is clearly underestimated lool

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

Huh? There are at least 35.000 french citizens living in the only city of Casablanca... and the 100.000 of the 1st post is clearly underestimated lool

The 100,000 figure was in the late 1970's after 200,000 had fled at indepedence in 1958. The number I am using is for permanent residents, not people that are contract workers.

[TooNs]

The 100,000 figure was in the late 1970's after 200,000 had fled at indepedence in 1958. The number I am using is for permanent residents, not people that are contract workers.
Ans I'm talking about permanent residents too :D

[Matthias Offodile]

The 100,000 figure was in the late 1970's after 200,000 had fled at indepedence in 1958. The number I am using is for permanent residents, not people that are contract workers.

Mosi, you seem to have a problem with Whites living outside SA ´cos you are constantly looking for ways to downsize their community while you think that only whites live in your country and contribute to your country economy.
That is totally wrong. I belive the figure I get form Wikepedia and form other serious sources and they are not figures from the 70´s! Nobody is kicking out Whites in Angola any more, same for Mozambique, these are open countries that need every hand that can help. So it is ridiculous if you trying to say that there are only 500 whites in Angola or 200 Whites in entire Mozambique! You also said that Angola needs more than 50 years to reach the status of 1975! Ridiculous! You even find Whites in Parliamnt in Angola (a Congolese studnet whose mother of Angolan origin has told me that, and it is him whom I believe in this matter). The figures you are giving are ridiculous! In Senegal , there are still more than 30 000 French citizens alone and not 10 000! This is even what Sarkozy and Chirac said when they visited Senegal and what the French press wrote and it is him who should know the figures.....the Whites that left Ivory Coast from 2002 onwards settled either in Senegal or Gabon, some in Marocco and some of those have even returned...(it is written and well documented in the French-speaking press)...

Mike2005, are you sure that only 5000 old pensioners are left in Zimbabwe???

[Matthias Offodile]

250,000 sounds excessive for Chinese in Nigeria. Probably more like 50,000.

Zambia's official Chinese population is 2,000 though the real figure is supposed to be 30,000.

SA, 160,000 Chinese.

No way, it is my father whom I believe if he tells me something and the Chinese community is in that range! Moreover, "Der Spiegel" is a respected magazine and they have put Chinese community in Africa above 800 000 (!!), it is an approximate figure of course!

[pappy]

No way, it is my father whom I believe if he tells me something and the Chinese community is in that range! Moreover, "Der Spiegel" is a respected magazine and they have put Chinese community in Africa above 800 000 (!!), it is an approximate figure of course!

I wouldn't be surprised, Chinese are multiplying in Nigeria. The Chinese and Lebanese are the largest immigrant population in Nigeria.

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

Mosi, you seem to have a problem with Whites living outside SA ´cos you are constantly looking for ways to downsize their community while you think that only whites live in your country and contribute to your country economy.
That is totally wrong. I belive the figure I get form Wikepedia and form other serious sources and they are not figures from the 70´s! Nobody is kicking out Whites in Angola any more, same for Mozambique, these are open countries that need every hand that can help. So it is ridiculous if you trying to say that there are only 500 whites in Angola or 200 Whites in entire Mozambique! You also said that Angola needs more than 50 years to reach the status of 1975! Ridiculous! You even find Whites in Parliamnt in Angola (a Congolese studnet whose mother of Angolan origin has told me that, and it is him whom I believe in this matter). The figures you are giving are ridiculous! In Senegal , there are still more than 30 000 French citizens alone and not 10 000! This is even what Sarkozy and Chirac said when they visited Senegal and what the French press wrote and it is him who should know the figures.....the Whites that left Ivory Coast from 2002 onwards settled either in Senegal or Gabon, some in Marocco and some of those have even returned...(it is written and well documented in the French-speaking press)...

Mike2005, are you sure that only 5000 old pensioners are left in Zimbabwe???

No but I find your arguments amusing. No I'm not suggesting that SA only has the whites. In fact the number of whites who have fled SA since 1994, about 1.5 million, is more than the number of whites who are left in the other countries combined. I'm not talking SA up or Africa down, I'm only stating the facts. In Angola hardly anyone has returned even now because of the same reasons why few return to SA.

In Angola, like SA, the liberation government (MPLA) is hostile to whites. In Angola I know for a fact that most Portuguese cannot return because of their skin color despite the free market reforms such as land ownership. Let's face it, if you were the MPLA would you allow them to come back when you believe as most African governments do that the whites are the oppressor and the coloniser.

In SA it is no different. We even have a Safety & Security Minister that bluntly tells whites to leave SA if they merely complain about the worsening crime situation. In Angola too there is alot of violence and very few skilled people believe me are staying there permanently.

Once all the postwar building is complete or when the Angolans run out of money, the Portuguese like the Chinese, Indians and other expats will simply go back to their countries.

In Mozambique it is the same as Angola. The only difference is that they have a president, Armando Guebuza, who during the independence war, was the man who gave the Portuguese 24 hours to get out of the country. Guebuza is also close allies with Robert Mugabe and unlike his predecessor Joaquim Chisanno is a hardliner and an Africanist.

In Mozambique, even SA tourists, black or white, have been attacked and mugged because of the security situation in that country. They are not welcoming back the Portuguese either and even Zimbabwean farmers driven out by Mugabe and who tried unsuccessfully to farm in Mozambique have gone back to their country or abroad.

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

Mike2005, are you sure that only 5000 old pensioners are left in Zimbabwe???

Mike2005,

I think you are right about this one! Who in their right mind would stay in Zimbabwe as long as this madman continues to destroy his country.

[pappy]

No but I find your arguments amusing. No I'm not suggesting that SA only has the whites. In fact the number of whites who have fled SA since 1994, about 1.5 million, is more than the number of whites who are left in the other countries combined. I'm not talking SA up or Africa down, I'm only stating the facts. In Angola hardly anyone has returned even now because of the same reasons why few return to SA.

In Angola, like SA, the liberation government (MPLA) is hostile to whites. In Angola I know for a fact that most Portuguese cannot return because of their skin color despite the free market reforms such as land ownership. Let's face it, if you were the MPLA would you allow them to come back when you believe as most African governments do that the whites are the oppressor and the coloniser.

In SA it is no different. We even have a Safety & Security Minister that bluntly tells whites to leave SA if they merely complain about the worsening crime situation. In Angola too there is alot of violence and very few skilled people believe me are staying there permanently.

Once all the postwar building is complete or when the Angolans run out of money, the Portuguese like the Chinese, Indians and other expats will simply go back to their countries.

In Mozambique it is the same as Angola. The only difference is that they have a president, Armando Guebuza, who during the independence war, was the man who gave the Portuguese 24 hours to get out of the country. Guebuza is also close allies with Robert Mugabe and unlike his predessesor Joaquim Chisanno is a hardliner and an Africanist.

In Mozambique, even SA tourists, black or white, have been attacked and mugged because of the security situation in that country. They are not welcoming back the Portuguese either and even Zimbabwean farmers driven out by Mugabe and who tried unsuccessfully to farm in Mozambique have gone back to their country or abroad.

Trash! Any country that kicks a group of people that contributed to what the country is is bound to fail...ask Zimbabwe.

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

I've read a book entitled White Africans, which was published last year by Jonathan Ball Publishers, based in Johannesburg. According to the book there are today only 5 million whites in all of Africa, including the 4 million in South Africa. Twenty years ago there were more than 6 million white Africans.

[pappy]

I've read a book entitled White Africans, which was published last year by Jonathan Ball Publishers, based in Johannesburg. According to the book there are today only 5 million whites in all of Africa, including the 4 million in South Africa. Twenty years ago there were more than 6 million white Africans.

Interesting...

[kulani]

In SA it is no different. We even have a Safety & Security Minister that bluntly tells whites to leave SA if they merely complain about the worsening crime situation. In Angola too there is alot of violence and very few skilled people believe me are staying there permanently.


Interesting that most white people are still blowing the whole Charles Nqakula's outburst when he was confronted about crime in parliament for all its worth. The poor guy apologized and explained that this was a response out of frustration and getting fed up with all the whingeing of opposition politicians instead of constructive engagement. Last week he was even in London explaining himself again, but hey, they just have to roast him alive. Even i get tired of listening to whites whingeing like a broken record all the time. We all get affected by crime so instead of making a fool of oneself, its better to engage with the ANC government in a way that will make them listen to you as opposed to shouting like a prostitute that didn't get paid by its patron. No offence but we all get affected by crime but there are much better ways of getting the point across without turning yourself into a complete nuisance which results in people not listening to you. So far from this crazy whingeing which is now starting to really bore everyone, we need people who can engage constructively with the government and police force in finding effective strategies to fight crime. I have to commend organisations like Business Against Crime and other similar initiatives, ordinary people who have been affected by crime such as David Bullard who have taken a different approach and this i believe will be more effective in making SA a better place for all than constant finger pointing.

Poor guy was even on record on monday in London saying that he acknowledged that many South Africans who had left the country had been personally affected by crime. "I have met with people like that and I empathise with them, it is clear that they have not just run away, but want to make a contribution to South Africa... they are saying that they are still available as South Africans." Here's the link (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=6&art_id=vn20070423011401218C525119)if you want the article

[DennisRodman]

WHO CARES ABOUT THESE STUPID STATS?????? WHATS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD......WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE ...YOU GUYS NEED TO GET A HOLD OF YOUR LIVES.....THIS IS A STUPID RIDICULOUS THREAD.

[Nadini]

perhaps this would help and it seems a bit more accurate, this is the Lebanese Diaspora

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4481/n829019350780139220qn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[pappy]

WHO CARES ABOUT THESE STUPID STATS?????? WHATS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD......WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE ...YOU GUYS NEED TO GET A HOLD OF YOUR LIVES.....THIS IS A STUPID RIDICULOUS THREAD.

We are counted everywhere in the world but the minute we start counting immigrants in our countries then it becomes taboo?! Please. We aren't trying to prove anything we're just talking about immigrants in African countries that's all.

[popa1980]

I think it was inevitable that this thread was going to turn political.

Btw, I have heard conflicting stories about Lusophone Africa. Some people say that the whites were NOT told to leave but did not want to be ruled by blacks whereas others are convinced that they were. Can anyone clarify this?

[popa1980]

Good stuff Nadini. I have been looking for something like that for a LONG time.

[popa1980]

I'm dubious about 9.000 Lebanese in Cote d'ivoire. Surely many more? Could the community really have shrunk to such levels?

[Matthias Offodile]

No but I find your arguments amusing. No I'm not suggesting that SA only has the whites. In fact the number of whites who have fled SA since 1994, about 1.5 million, is more than the number of whites who are left in the other countries combined. I'm not talking SA up or Africa down, I'm only stating the facts. In Angola hardly anyone has returned:ohno: even now because of the same reasons why few return to SA.

In Angola, like SA, the liberation government (MPLA) is hostile to whites. In Angola I know for a fact that most Portuguese cannot return because of their skin color despite the free market reforms such as land ownership. Let's face it, if you were the MPLA would you allow them to come back when you believe as most African governments do that the whites are the oppressor and the coloniser.

In SA it is no different. We even have a Safety & Security Minister that bluntly tells whites to leave SA if they merely complain about the worsening crime situation. In Angola too there is alot of violence and very few skilled people believe me are staying there permanently.:ohno:

Once all the postwar building is complete or when the Angolans run out of money, the Portuguese like the Chinese, Indians and other expats will simply go back to their countries.
:ohno:
In Mozambique it is the same as Angola. The only difference is that they have a president, Armando Guebuza, who during the independence war, was the man who gave the Portuguese 24 hours to get out of the country. Guebuza is also close allies with Robert Mugabe and unlike his predecessor Joaquim Chisanno is a hardliner and an Africanist.

In Mozambique, even SA tourists, black or white, have been attacked and mugged because of the security situation in that country. They are not welcoming back the Portuguese either and even Zimbabwean farmers driven out by Mugabe and who tried unsuccessfully to farm in Mozambique have gone back to their country or abroad.

Mosi, Mosi, what your are telling us here is simply amusing! You probably belong to the ones that believe in Africa going up in flames shortly! When I red you it makes me laugh and nothing more.

And I don´t see any point in talking this over with you, but you should read history correctly and carefully....you are really discrediting the countries a lot, I can´t belive that you are a Black South African! The first president of Moz gave the Whites of Moz. 48 hours to leave the country or become Mozambican citizens. And then he pleaded them to stay. more than 30 000 stayed on and I am sure many more would have if the country hadn´t come under Communist rule!
In Angola it is the same, even today you have many former whites of Angola who still yearn for the country and identify themselves as "Angolans". The Portuguese community in Angola this includes ONLY the number of new arrivals, not those with dual citizenships or those who have stayed on is 60 000 (due to "Marché Tropicaux" who had a dossier on Angola last year). It doesn´t include the Brazilians who are working in Angola (ok, those are expats). Blogs I have read and the student I met at university who is half Angolan and half Congolese told me the exact opposite to what you are saying! AND IT IS HIM AND THOSE BLOGS THAT I BELIEVE AND PHOTOS I HAVE SEEN AND ARTICLES I HAVE READ! yOU ARE TELLING US HERE BLATANT LIES, boy! Everybody is welcome in Angola other Africans, Whites, Chinese, Arabs as long as they are skilled..nobody fears for their lives, I don´t know where you get this from. your vision of Africa is a shame! You are painting Africa in the most horrible way imaginable...I would even go as far as to say that you are waiting for Africa ´s total implosion, but this will not happen, no matter what invented statistics and weird stories you are trying to tell us here!

PS: But all this doesn´t surprise me any more because you were the one who said that Angola needs more than 50 years to reach its pre- 1975 level! :lol:

[Matthias Offodile]

I'm dubious about 9.000 Lebanese in Cote d'ivoire. Surely many more? Could the community really have shrunk to such levels?

Me too, Lebanese community was immensely strong in the 70´s 80´and 90´s (reaching 300 000), I lived in that country so it is me who should know it! And it is still somewhere around 100 000 today. Many "Lebanese" already have Ivorian passports and so they are no longer in the statistics.

[Matthias Offodile]

Nadini, thanks for contributing!:) But I don´t think that the statistics given are right, here is an excerpt of an article about the Lebanese community in former Zaire. (250 000 people strong:eek2: )..before all the turmoil began.... This figure even surprised me...I cannot post the entire articles which dates from 2001 here; it is too long! Here the excerpt...

Abdel-Sattar Ashour, president of the Lebanese Cultural Association (LCA) and Victor Haddad, LCA secretary-general, concurred. (...)

There are fewer than 250,000 Lebanese nationals in Congo, a vast country of over 50 million people. It is, however, one of the wealthiest, most influential and dynamic Lebanese communities in Africa. But as the fortunes of the Congolese economy deteriorated in recent years and the country became engulfed in political turmoil, many Lebanese businessmen and their families fled the country. Some trudged across the Congo's porous borders to friends and relatives in neighbouring countries, while others hurriedly returned to Lebanon.

Those who remained in the DRC, a failed state, feel betrayed.(...)

[popa1980]

I VERY, VERY much doubt there were ever that many in Congo.

For unknown reasons, stats for Lebanese seem to be sometimes ridicuosly high. I think they are exaggerated by community leaders. For example, I have lived in Brazil and I can def tell u that there are not 6 million Arab-Brazilians. Other dubious stats I have encountered are 3.5million Arab-Argentines. I have also been to Argentina and thats def not the case. I really dont know where some of these figures come from.

[Matthias Offodile]

Nadini, here is an artile from "Radio France International" (rfi.fr)...I will outline the main points of interest here (bear in mind that this only is an approximate figure again)...the numbers are certainly higher in reality, at least for Ivory Coast.


Libanais d’Afrique : Entre la gloire et le cliché

(MFI) Installés en Afrique depuis plusieurs générations, les Libanais suscitent chez leurs compatriotes des sentiments mitigés. Leur réussite économique fait des envieux, et l’attitude de certains, critiquable, rejaillit sur l’ensemble de la communauté. Les plus jeunes se sentent africains et veulent être jugés à l’aune de ce qu’ils font.

Leur histoire semble toujours commencer de la même façon : en quête d’une vie meilleure, leurs aïeux, parents ou grands-parents, ont quitté le pays d’origine pour aller vivre, dans les pays d’accueil, l’hospitalité des habitants autant que des débuts difficiles, la misère, parfois la guerre, et enfin la fortune et la gloire. L’histoire des Libanais d’Afrique est souvent ainsi faite.
Selon les sources, ils seraient sur ce continent entre 250 000 et 300 000 : de 50 000 à 80 000 en Côte d’Ivoire, 30 000 au Sénégal, 25 000 au Nigeria, moins de 10 000 en Sierra Leone, au Ghana, au Gabon… De confessions diverses, chrétiens maronites, musulmans sunnites et chiites. En fait, le Liban a une longue tradition migratoire : le pays abrite aujourd’hui cinq millions d’habitants, alors que sa diaspora regroupe dans le monde douze millions de personnes (...).

[Matthias Offodile]

I VERY, VERY much doubt there were ever that many in Congo.

Yes, this even surprised me because 250 000 for Zaire is really a lot even in times of peace! Never been personally to Zaire but Zaire was certainly never like Ivory Coast to live in...so numbers must be lower! I think that the RFI article I posted reflects more the realities on the ground!

[popa1980]

Yeah. I have always been told that IC had the biggest Lebanese poulation followed by Senegal then Gabon and thats why I'm VERY dubious about the 250,000 in DRC.

IC will rise again though and Im sure the population will start to increase as I suspect many have left for pastures green.

[Matthias Offodile]

IC will rise again though and Im sure the population will start to increase as I suspect many have left for pastures green.

This is also my sincere wish, believe me!:)

[Matthias Offodile]

I checked the figures for Namibia, CIA Factbook (updated 17 April 2007), and the figures for Namibia are not as low as 50 000 as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" puts them but close to the figure I found on wikepedia (above 100 000) for white Namibians. Moreover, there have been quite a number of new reports/documentaries in the past few months about Namibia on German TV. And the country is doing well as a whole, it was said, it won´t be another Zimbabwe over there. The president is not stupid! Some people in SA seem to be full of paranoia, I think...and paint an Africa picture in the bad hues! Africa is not imploding!

Namibia (close to 2 million)

Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

I checked the figures for Namibia, CIA Factbook (updated 17 April 2007), and the figures for Namibia are not as low as 50 000 as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" puts them but close to the figure I found on wikepedia (above 100 000) for white Namibians. Moreover, there have been quite a number of new reports/documentaries in the past few months about Namibia on German TV. And the country is doing well as a whole, it was said, it won´t be another Zimbabwe over there. The president is not stupid! Some people in SA seem to be full of paranoia, I think...and paint an Africa picture in the bad hues! Africa is not imploding!

Well regarding Namibia only time will tell, eh. The new president of Namibia Hifikipunya Pohamba was a former land reform minister and he campaigned in 2004 to expropriate white owned commercial farms. He also is a close ally of Robert Mugabe just like former President Sam Nujoma, who became famous or infamous for his blustering attack on Tony Blair at the earth summit in Johannesburg in 2002. Namibia, unlike SA, discourages the use of Afrikaans and is even more like a one-party state run by SWAPO, which has 80% control of Parliament.

While Pohamba's government says it will observe the "rule of law" in conducting "orderly" land reforms, he also brought in Zimbabwean and Cuban agrarian "advisors" to help Namibia's land reform program. Namibia is also close friends with Iran and North Korea, both of which are also patrons of Robert Mugabe.

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

Matthias,

You need to read a real good book entitled The Fate of Africa by Martin Meredith which was published in 2005. It talks about Africa in the last 50 years and covers the post-independence era. It is an indictment on the litany of malgovernance on the continent. It has 700 pages.

He also wrote a biography about Robert Mugabe entitled Our Votes, Our Guns: Robert Mugabe and the Tragedy of Zimbabwe in 2003.

[popa1980]

Well land reform IS necessary so I hope they do carry it out in Namibia. Or dont you believe in it?

What happened in Kenya when the white farmers left btw?

[Kenguy]

Well land reform IS necessary so I hope they do carry it out in Namibia. Or dont you believe in it?

What happened in Kenya when the white farmers left btw?

In Kenya, a large number of white farmers left at independence fearing that the country would implode under African rule (weren't they wrong), others stayed and took up Kenyan citizenship.

The farms they left behind were bought back by the government from the white farmers leaving the country using funds sourced from Britain. The government then offered the farms for sale on a highest bidder basis to the local african population. The problem with this was that the government of the day favoured those in power and gave them large tracts of land while others still remained squatters on farms that they had been born in because they didnt have the money to buy the land in the first place.This is still a problem even today...a few black and white individuals owning extremely huge holdings while a majority dont have land.

[popa1980]

I know. My point was that, contrary to popular opinion, blacks can manage farms. In fact, the new black owners were better farmers than the whites and achieved higher yields and outputs.

[Nadini]

Nadini, here is an artile from "Radio France International" (rfi.fr)...I will outline the main points of interest here (bear in mind that this only is an approximate figure again)...the numbers are certainly higher in reality, at least for Ivory Coast.

Merci pour l'information, on ne peut pas vraiment determiner la population d'origine libanaises en Afrique. C'est trop difficile, et je suis certaines qu'il y a plusieurs generation d'Africo-Libanais.

I know for a fact that Nigeria and Congo has many Lebanese since many of my friends that just came from those countries tell me that them Lebanese are everywhere lol :nuts:

[icosium]

Alegria too has a large number of Chinese workers.

Peng Guichen, in charge of labor services in Algeria under the China State Construction International Group, told People's Daily there are more than 9,000 workers. Most of them were skilled, like electrical engineers, carpenters and bricklayers.

"The reason they are working here is very simple - to make money," Peng told the newspaper.

The monthly salaries ranged from US$400 to US$800.

with the project off east west highway number off chinesse will increase
The east-west highway project should, according to Algerian Public Works Minister Amar Ghoul, create more than 100 000 jobs and facilitate trans-Maghrebian traffic. The highway will link the Algeria-Tunisia border to the east and the Algeria-Morocco border to the west, and span 8,216km. Notices have already been issued for 1,000 engineers to be recruited, Ghoul said.

Employment Minister Djamel Ould Abbès and the two Asian groups who have clinched the deal, Cojaal from Japan and CITIC/CRCC from China -- signed the agreement on Saturday (25 November). "Seventy-one per cent of the workforce will be Algerian, while Chinese and Japanese workers will make up the remaining 29%," Ghoul said at the signing ceremony

IT WILL BE LIKE 30 000 THOUSAND CHINESSE WORKER AND MORE
THIS IS WITHOUT THE CHINESSE WHO LIVES IN ALGERIA MANY OFF THEM STAY IN ALGERIA AFTER WORKING THERE THEY BUY STORE AND DO BUSSNESS

THEY ARE NOW MORE THAN 30.000 FRENCH (BI NATIONAL ) ALGERIA
IN 2002 THEY WERE 7500 ONLY

BY COMPARAISON IN 1999 ALGERIA HAD ONLY 593 FOREIGNERS WORKERS TODAY IN 2006 MORE THAN 18.000 FOREIGNERS WORKERS

http://www.afrik.com/article9891.html

[Matthias Offodile]

Merci pour l'information, on ne peut pas vraiment determiner la population d'origine libanaises en Afrique. C'est trop difficile, et je suis certaines qu'il y a plusieurs generation d'Africo-Libanais.


Pas de problèmes, Nadini! Tu as tout à fait raison par rapport à ce que tu dis! Il y a vraiment des tas de Libanais (ou d´Africains d´origine libanaise) dans beaucoup des pays francophones en Afrique mais aussi au Nigéria, en Afrique du Sud etc. Et il ont aussi beaucoup aidé à l épanouisement économique mais aussi culturelle (en termes de plus diversité) des pays! Moi, j´ai vécu à Abidjan pour quelques années pour te le confimer. A propos, c´était génial à l´époque et le brassage culturel nous (mes parents et moi) a toujours beaucoup passionné. Le pays me tient encore à coeur! J´y avais aussi deux amis libanais là-bas avec lesquels je suis encore en contact, à propos!
Vous êtes vraiment un peuple plein de dynamisme et d´idées et toujours à la mode, j´estime cela! :)

[Matthias Offodile]

Well regarding Namibia only time will tell, eh. The new president of Namibia Hifikipunya Pohamba was a former land reform minister and he campaigned in 2004 to expropriate white owned commercial farms. He also is a close ally of Robert Mugabe just like former President Sam Nujoma, who became famous or infamous for his blustering attack on Tony Blair at the earth summit in Johannesburg in 2002. Namibia, unlike SA, discourages the use of Afrikaans and is even more like a one-party state run by SWAPO, which has 80% control of Parliament.

While Pohamba's government says it will observe the "rule of law" in conducting "orderly" land reforms, he also brought in Zimbabwean and Cuban agrarian "advisors" to help Namibia's land reform program. Namibia is also close friends with Iran and North Korea, both of which are also patrons of Robert Mugabe.


Mosi, Well, I am no expert on Namibia so I have to believe you in this regard although you tend to conjure up evil and worst case scenarios implicitly!
Land needs to be more equally redistributed, that´s urgent throughout Southern Africa but praising Mugabe or taking him as a reference point or keeping North Korea or Cuba as close allies is an horrid thought!
Southern Africa doesn´t need another Zimbabwe in the making in Namibia, CERTAINLY NOT! It would shed a very bad light on our continent and will only lead to utter collapse of Namibia (and Namibia is among the showcase countries of our continent, it has to sty that way!!!). Namibia has to learn from Zimbabwe´s road to hell!
But I think that it will do so because they have more to earn than to lose and for all I know democracy has become more entrenched there than it was the case for Zimbabwe in the 80´s and 90´s.

Mosi, can I ask you why your own president Thabo Mbéki is so lenient towards Mugabe? SA is a very strong country, it could use its diplomatic power and well-targeted economic influence to kick that old lunatic out of office, to put it bluntly! But at times I have the notion that Mbéki is on friendly terms with Mugabe. Why? The people are suffereing badly in Zimbabwe (although the photos we have seen here don´t lay bare the realities on the ground) and SA is flooded by droves of illegals from Zimbabwe? So why are his lips sealed? SA is not benefitting from Zimbabwe´s decay in the long run in any way

[Mosi-oa-Tunya]

MosiMosi, can I ask you why your own president Thabo Mbéki is so lenient towards Mugabe? SA is a very strong country, it could use its diplomatic power and well-targeted economic influence to kick that old lunatic out of office, to put it bluntly! But at times I have the notion that Mbéki is on friendly terms with Mugabe. Why? The people are suffereing badly in Zimbabwe (although the photos we have seen here don´t lay bare the realities on the ground) and SA is flooded by droves of illegals from Zimbabwe? So why are his lips sealed? SA is not benefitting from Zimbabwe´s decay in the long run in any way

Because Mbeki is afraid of Robert Mugabe and most ANC people see themselves as children compared to Zimbabwe, which gained independence 14 years before SA did. Mbeki thinks that by speaking up for SA that Robert Mugabe would call for land invasions in SA and may even go to SA and get the townships stirred up in his vitriol.

Also, Mbeki is afraid of the Africanist hardliners in his own party who actually love Robert Mugabe and even consider him to be their role model for SA. These people have even been quoted on the BBC and other sources as saying that they are prepared to do in SA what was done in Zimbabwe (wholesale seizures and nationalisation of white commercial farms and private property) even if it results in economic collapse and ruin. From their ghastly standpoint they say they would rather start over from scratch after the wholesale exodus of the whites and create an Africanist revolutionary state which is devoid of what they believe are the white "foreigners and settlers."

I think Thabo's thinking is screwed up about his "quiet diplomacy" just as his brother Moletsi Mbeki (another intellectual as bright as the president himself) has stated on record his misgivings about the SA's failed policy of dealing with the crisis in Zimbabwe. All the opposition parties in SA's Parliament are against SA's support for Mugabe. Even the Africanist-leaning PAC which long has sympathies for Mugabe has expressed support for the suffering and hardships suffered by the Zimbabwean people. Even the SACP and Cosatu, tripartite alliance partners of the ANC have condemned Mugabe and his tyranny in Zimbabwe.

[Matthias Offodile]

Because Mbeki is afraid of Robert Mugabe and most ANC people see themselves as children compared to Zimbabwe, which gained independence 14 years before SA did. Mbeki thinks that by speaking up for SA that Robert Mugabe would call for land invasions in SA and may even go to SA and get the townships stirred up in his vitriol.

Also, Mbeki is afraid of the Africanist hardliners in his own party who actually love Robert Mugabe and even consider him to be their role model for SA. These people have even been quoted on the BBC and other sources as saying that they are prepared to do in SA what was done in Zimbabwe (wholesale seizures and nationalisation of white commercial farms and private property) even if it results in economic collapse and ruin. From their ghastly standpoint they say they would rather start over from scratch after the wholesale exodus of the whites and create an Africanist revolutionary state which is devoid of what they believe are the white "foreigners and settlers."
I think Thabo's thinking is screwed up about his "quiet diplomacy" just as his brother Moletsi Mbeki (another intellectual as bright as the president himself) has stated on record his misgivings about the SA's failed policy of dealing with the crisis in Zimbabwe. All the opposition parties in SA's Parliament are against SA's support for Mugabe. Even the Africanist-leaning PAC which long has sympathies for Mugabe has expressed support for the suffering and hardships suffered by the Zimbabwean people. Even the SACP and Cosatu, tripartite alliance partners of the ANC have condemned Mugabe and his tyranny in Zimbabwe.


Oh my God, are you sure of what you are saying? This sounds dreadful! Is that exaggerated and blown out of proportion or based on empirical evidence? How many of the hardliners are in favour of such politics? I do sincerly hope that it is a very tiny minority! How can open-minded and educated politicians of today´s globalised world be in praise of such politics? It sounds like the evil spirits of facist Germany decades ago....Zimbabwe´s population is suffering frightfully and inflation has gone to extremes ! What kind of politicians are these that support such political and socio-economic anomalies, please? Are they still in their right mind or simply obsessed by their own self-centred and develish greed?
Really I am not an expert neither on SA, Namibia or Zimbabwe in order to analyze the structural, historic, institutional and economic context thoroughly... so reading this leaves me speechless/gasping for words.
But no, no this won´t happen...you also said that there are more and more opponents to Mugabe and his “admirers” are loosing ground in the face of the daily naked plight Zim´s population is faced with! Nobody who is still in his senses can support Mugabe!
Africa has to move on fiercely, there is absolutely no time for misplaced “priorities” or politics that belong to a by-gone era. I know that the land issue is a highly sensitive topic which needs to be dealt with urgently and efficiently but one has to go PEACEFUL ways by finding adequate solutions for most - if not all - actors involved. Can I ask you which initiatives have been taken in this regard? Too much is at stake FOR ALL SIDES! And bear in mind that your own country has mastered its democratic transition admiringly well (thanks to Nelson Mandela´s supernatural capabilities of steering South Africa to safe waters after 1994, of course) and your country is currently on the way to become a full-fledged and a so-called consolidated and institutional democracy (with flaws to oversome in impending the years: fighting crime and violence, redressing the social inequality including the land issue, growing the already stronger black middle-classes etc.) .......even critical political scientists generally subscribe to all this.

[kulani]

There is a lot of complexity in dealing with the situation of Zimbabwe from Mbeki's angle and much of it has to do with the fact that Zimbabwe provided the ANC with much needed support during the anti-apartheid struggle and often shelter against the apartheid regime.

Also Zimbabwe has gone through pretty similar problems as SA and Mbeki is likely not too keen on appearing to take a heavy handed approach against Mugabe which is likely not going to go down very well with the left leaning COSATO (largest labour union) and SACP who are in a tripartite alliance with the ANC. Also guys you have to acknowledge coming from SA's complex history, he would have to tread very carefully when dealing with the rest of the continent. I can only imagine Mugabe saying, "dude don't come here and try teach me something, cause you don't know squat, i helped you guys get to where you are so hands off my Zimbabwe 'cause i know what i am doing". Also the land reform issue in SA continues to be a pressing issue that is still largely unresolved and the left leaning unions and poor black majority are losing patience over this. So its not as simple as what the journalists make it out to be.

As for the radical africanists, they are a minority and have been successfully sidelined and isolated. The problem for Mbeki is the labour unions who are pushing for pro labour economic policy orientation and are not comfortable with Mbeki's pro-business economic policies which they believe favours the capitalist world at the expense of labour and the poor black majority. They have found a new home in the name of former Vice President Jacob Zuma whom they believe would lend an ear to their struggle. So they are determined to ensure that despite the corruption case still pending against him he succeed in becoming the ANC president come 12/2007 (this automatically secures his Presidency come 2009 when the ANC win the election again...). Mbeki would have preferred a candidate who will carry through his pro-business economic policies, black economic empowerment, affirmative action and anti-corruption programmes like his current Deputy Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

[Kenguy]

Source: Daily Nation

Title: East African Asians need to see the forest for the trees

Story by RASNA WARAH
Publication Date: 2007/04/30

During his eight-year reign of terror, Idi Amin killed more than 400,000 Ugandans, including members of his own Cabinet. But it was the expulsion of some 70,000 Asians, more than half of whom held British passports, in 1972, that gained the world’s attention, and led to international condemnation of the Ugandan leader.

Similarly, it was the recent lynching of an Asian trader, Deval Rawal, that made headlines around the world, not the fact he was one of three casualties (the other two were Ugandan Africans, who were shot dead by police) of an environmental protest gone wrong.

Even more telling was the way the matter was reported in the media. What appeared to be a legitimate environmental issue quickly turned into a racial issue, with major international newspapers describing the incident as “reminiscent of 1972 when Idi Amin led a hate campaign against South Asian merchants.”

FEW NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THAT when the 1972 expulsion took place, it was welcomed by the majority of Ugandans, who viewed this mercantile minority as a hindrance to their own economic development. Ugandans only began to see the folly of Amin’s decision when the expulsion did not translate into prosperity for indigenous Ugandans and when the economy began to suffer.

Ironically, of all of Amin’s victims, Asians got the best deal in the end. Not only did most of them have the means, the resources, and, in many cases, the passports that allowed them safe passage out of the country, but they also got much of their property back when Milton Obote’s government in the post-Amin years set up mechanisms to allow expelled Asians to return to Uganda and reclaim their looted houses and businesses.

Few media houses reported the fact that the biggest culprit in the whole saga was none other than President Yoweri Museveni, who had agreed to let one-third of the Mabira forest to the Mehta Group, and who had dismissed environmental conservation as a “luxury” that a poor country such as Uganda could not afford. President Museveni is reported to have said that he would not “be deterred by people who don’t see where the future of Uganda lies”.

On its part, the Mehta Group, one of the wealthiest industrialists in Uganda during the pre-Amin years, arrogantly echoed President Museveni’s sentiments by labelling the protesters as “anti-development” activists, who did not see the economic benefits that their proposed sugar plantation would bring to the people of Uganda.

Events in Uganda revived what has come to be known as “The Asian Question”, one of the most emotive issues in East Africa. It is a question that has come up at various times, particularly in Kenya, even more than the “white settler” question, which only erupts when the Maasai protest to reclaim their lands in the Rift Valley or Laikipia, and which is quickly quelled and forgotten.

In Kenya, the Asian Question has been revisited several times, first when the Africanisation policy was put in place in the late 1960s, then in the aftermath of the 1982 coup attempt during which several Asian shops were looted.

But it wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that the Asian Question became so politicised that political parties began using it to rally support.

Kenyans may have forgotten that in 1992, none other than the Kibaki-led Democratic Party and Martin Shikuku’s Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (Ford-Asili) called for the expulsion of all Asians who supported the then KANU government.

It was only when the Goldenberg scandal broke in the mid-1990s that Kenyans were forced to accept that the real enemy of Kenya’s economic development was corruption and that some corrupt African politicians and bureaucrats had colluded with a small clique of Asian “tycoons” to bring the country to its knees.

NEARLY 35 YEARS AFTER ASIANS IN Uganda were humiliated and booted out of the country with nothing but their suitcases, East African Asians need to ask themselves if their behaviour and lack of sensitivity to the sentiments of the local indigenous population is in any way contributing to the feelings of resentment against them.

Asians in this part of the world tend to be apolitical; few become political activists or active members of political parties. Many are known to back political parties only when the parties or their leaders promise to advance their economic interests. This opportunism and the general ignorance of the political, social and economic realities of East Africa are largely to blame for much of the resentment that they face whenever a national crisis erupts.

This insensitivity to the local political environment, probably led the Mehta Group to accept to build a sugar factory in parts of a Ugandan forest at a time when Uganda and the world is suffering from the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.

If the Mehta Group directors had any vision or foresight, they would have declined the offer, and gained the goodwill and support of their fellow Ugandans in the process.

[BlackLion]

Matthias,

You need to read a real good book entitled The Fate of Africa by Martin Meredith which was published in 2005. It talks about Africa in the last 50 years and covers the post-independence era. It is an indictment on the litany of malgovernance on the continent. It has 700 pages.

He also wrote a biography about Robert Mugabe entitled Our Votes, Our Guns: Robert Mugabe and the Tragedy of Zimbabwe in 2003.

THANK YOU! I was wondering whether anyone else in this thread had read this amazing book. WIthout question, it is one of my 3 favorite books of ALL TIME. But anyways, while I am no expert on the number of white people in Angola, nor will I pretend to be one since I really have no way of knowing, I will definitely say that whoever put the figure of whites living in Angola at 500 completely wrong. See, the thing is, there are 500 white people in the Cais do Quatro Restaurant in the Ilha de Luanda during one weekend alone :) And this is just Luanda. There are whites living in Benguela, Namibe, and elsewhere. Several reputable sources put the figure of whites in Angola at 1%. If Angola's population is somewhere between 12 - 14 million, do the math. There are at least 100,000 whites in Angola.

[Alex Roney]

I VERY, VERY much doubt there were ever that many in Congo.

For unknown reasons, stats for Lebanese seem to be sometimes ridicuosly high. I think they are exaggerated by community leaders. For example, I have lived in Brazil and I can def tell u that there are not 6 million Arab-Brazilians. Other dubious stats I have encountered are 3.5million Arab-Argentines. I have also been to Argentina and thats def not the case. I really dont know where some of these figures come from.

Theirs actually an estimated 12 million Brazilians of arab descent. 9 million of them are Lebanese and 85% of our arabs are christian. The thing is in our census, are grouped with whites since practically all of them are very light skinned and European looking. Lebanese, Syrians and some Palestinians could easily pass as mediterranean Euros.

Also Remember that the former president of Argentina Carlos Menem was Syrian and former Ecuadorean president was also of arab descent. I guess however the most famous example is Shakira whose father is Lebanese. :)

[Michaelda]

No way, it is my father whom I believe if he tells me something and the Chinese community is in that range! Moreover, "Der Spiegel" is a respected magazine and they have put Chinese community in Africa above 800 000 (!!), it is an approximate figure of course!

no way, that number is to high for nigeria. germany just wants to make africa look like its being colonised by china

[Michaelda]

Namibia, unlike SA, discourages the use of Afrikaans and is even more like a one-party state run by SWAPO, which has 80% control of Parliament


this is good news. keep it up namibia

[Kenguy]

Namibia, unlike SA, discourages the use of Afrikaans and is even more like a one-party state run by SWAPO, which has 80% control of Parliament


this is good news. keep it up namibia
^^
What's so good about marginalizing a language and lack of democracy?:ohno:

[Michaelda]

^^
What's so good about marginalizing a language and lack of democracy?:ohno:

what are you talk about. what lack of democracy. and point out where i praise anything about lack of democracy? and that conclusion is just you opinion. it is certainly more democratic than it was when colonised by SA. i think you just added that portion in an attempt to give credence to your post. anyway...

i specifically picked out the portion about the language because the language was and is a tool of oppression. it marginalised other languages before it and it is good to see its retreat. a language that carries that much baggage and history of oppression is best in the trash bin. a nuetral language will help with unity

[Kenguy]

what are you talk about. what lack of democracy. and point out where i praise anything about lack of democracy? and that conclusion is just you opinion. it is certainly more democratic than it was when colonised by SA. i think you just added that portion in an attempt to give credence to your post. anyway...

i specifically picked out the portion about the language because the language was and is a tool of oppression. it marginalised other languages before it and it is good to see its retreat. a language that carries that much baggage and history of oppression is best in the trash bin. a nuetral language will help with unity
^^
What would be the neutral language in this case? English/German? I agree that Afrikaans doesn't have a glamorous history but that doesn't mean that it needs to be banished. I'd prefer a situation where other languages and Afrikaans are placed on a strong equal footing.

[Michaelda]

^^
What would be the neutral language in this case? English/German? I agree that Afrikaans doesn't have a glamorous history but that doesn't mean that it needs to be banished. I'd prefer a situation where other languages and Afrikaans are placed on a strong equal footing.

i dont think the namibian government is calling for it to be banished, but it is to charged and too heavily used so it is not currently favored. if i heard the language being banned i may look at it differently. even china has pushed chinese in hong kong sine the british left. makes sense

[Alex Roney]

I think people in general are grossly overestimating the number of Chinese in certain African countries. South Africa appears to have the highest number and they only seem to have 100,000. Most places are all under 20,000. It's also very hard to get a specific estimate since their residency is primarily for a specific amount of time. Make some money and end on back home, not to the same degree as seen in South East Asia, Europe and the Americas.

[Matthias Offodile]

I think people in general are grossly overestimating the number of Chinese in certain African countries. South Africa appears to have the highest number and they only seem to have 100,000. Most places are all under 20,000. It's also very hard to get a specific estimate since their residency is primarily for a specific amount of time. Make some money and end on back home, not to the same degree as seen in South East Asia, Europe and the Americas.

No, my father is telling me something different. The number of Chinese in Nigeria are definitely more than 20 000! Btw, Chinese are not new to Africa, although there numbers have increased drastically in the past years, the foreign minister of Gabon is Sino-Gabonese. His father was Chinese who settled in Gabon and married a local Gabonese woman.

http://www.interet-general.info/IMG/Jean-Ping-1-2.jpg
Here is Mr. Jean Ping

As for the Lebanese that have settled worldwide, I know that many have left Lebanon centuries and decades ago to South America, Europe, America and Africa. (Salma Hayak is of Lebanese descent, btw.)

http://www.dancewithshadows.com/movies/images/salma-2.jpg

The biggest and most integrated Lebanese community in Africa was in the Ivory Coast. (almost 300 000 in the country´s heydays). It still figures above 100 000 nowadays. The Lebanese people are pretty energetic and dynamic (something like the Igbos in Nigeria:D )and I have to confess that Lebanon had developped much much faster and better if it had stayed a French protectorate militarily at least or even French "territoires d´autres mer", something like British Hong Kong or Portuguese Macau....at least for a couple of decades longer. All those stupid islamists radicals would have stayed away and Lebanon could have prospered very well.

Pierre Fakhoury is a famous Ivorian architect of Lebanese descent, his great-grandfathers all lived and died in Côte d´ivoire. And he was a major builder of Ivory Coast´s capital, Yamoussoukro, among other things in the country.

http://www.abidjan.net/cotedivoire/basilique/images/FHB_plan_basilique.gif

[Alex Roney]

No, my father is telling me something different. The number of Chinese in Nigeria are definitely more than 20 000! Btw, Chinese are not new to Africa, although there numbers have increased drastically in the past years, the foreign minister of Gabon is Sino-Gabonese. His father was Chinese who settled in Gabon and married a local Gabonese woman.

http://www.interet-general.info/IMG/Jean-Ping-1-2.jpg
Here is Mr. Jean Ping

As for the Lebanese that have settled worldwide, I know that many have left Lebanon centuries and decades ago to South America, Europe, America and Africa. (Salma Hayak is of Lebanese descent, btw.)

http://www.dancewithshadows.com/movies/images/salma-2.jpg

The biggest and most integrated Lebanese community in Africa was in the Ivory Coast. (almost 300 000 in the country´s heydays). It still figures above 100 000 nowadays. The Lebanese people are pretty energetic and dynamic (something like the Igbos in Nigeria:D )and I have to confess that Lebanon had developped much much faster and better if it had stayed a French protectorate militarily at least or even French "territoires d´autres mer", something like British Hong Kong or Portuguese Macau....at least for a couple of decades longer. All those stupid islamists radicals would have stayed away and Lebanon could have prospered very well.

Pierre Fakhoury is a famous Ivorian architect of Lebanese descent, his great-grandfathers all lived and died in Côte d´ivoire. And he was a major builder of Ivory Coast´s capital, Yamoussoukro, among other things in the country.

http://www.abidjan.net/cotedivoire/basilique/images/FHB_plan_basilique.gif

The thing is how can you accurately give a statistic when people are moving in and moving out? If you've ever worked in a corporate company in China its the same thing. Most workers move around throughout their careers rarely staying longer than 5 years per company. It works the same way (for the most part) with the Chinese in Africa.

Now your example in Gabon is a delightful surprise, but how many Chinese actually migrated there? In the CIA world factbook they don't even compute in the various ethnicities. Just look at developed European countries they receive a relatively small number of Chinese migrants in proportion to their population. I'd be surprised if Nigeria had more than 50,000 Chinese workers.

Lebanese are one of the best and most successful entrapeneurs on the planet. Their risk takers, in Brazil their the wealthiest ethnic group and are completely integrated.

[Matthias Offodile]

I'd be surprised if Nigeria had more than 50,000 Chinese workers.

Lebanese are one of the best and most successful entrapeneurs on the planet. Their risk takers, in Brazil their the wealthiest ethnic group and are completely integrated.

Believe me, there are definitely more than 50 000 Chinese people in Nigeria, not just in Lagos but scattered allover, Nigeria is vast and the population massive (more than 140 million people).

A Cameroonian at university told me that Chinese people are everywhere in Cameroon, in tens of thousands already, that´s what the press is writing about in his home countryand what he himslef has witnessed! You can believe me now or not, but some of them are even selling water in the streets in urban centres, that´s what he told me. And Cameroon is by far less important than Nigeria.

As for the Lebanese is Brazil? Just give me the name of a company that is led by a wealthy Brazilian of Lebanese descent in Brazil, please?.

Lebanese are not just good risk takers but they attach a lot of attention to style in general. If you ever visited any club or restaurant that is Lebanese owned, you will know what I am alluding to, the interiors are tastefully designed, very clean and places are effeciently run. (I am not talking about small charwmas snack shops here). Go to a house of a Lebanese, very attractively furnished. Many of them are good architects and designers, too. They have an eye for details.

[Alex Roney]

Believe me, there are definitely more than 50 000 Chinese people in Nigeria, not just in Lagos but scattered allover, Nigeria is vast and the population massive (more than 140 million people).

A Cameroonian at university told me that Chinese people are everywhere in Cameroon, in tens of thousands already, that´s what the press is writing about in his home countryand what he himslef has witnessed! You can believe me now or not, but some of them are even selling water in the streets in urban centres, that´s what he told me. And Cameroon is by far less important than Nigeria.

As for the Lebanese is Brazil? Just give me the name of a company that is led by a wealthy Brazilian of Lebanese descent in Brazil, please?.

Lebanese are not just good risk takers but they attach a lot of attention to style in general. If you ever visited any club or restaurant that is Lebanese owned, you will know what I am alluding to, the interiors are tastefully designed, very clean and places are effeciently run. (I am not talking about small charwmas snack shops here). Go to a house of a Lebanese, very attractively furnished. Many of them are good architects and designers, too. They have an eye for details.

Well, I've googled "Chinese Diaspora" and their was no mention of Nigeria or Africa (apart from S.Africa). Do you really think that theirs more than 50,000 Chinese part time workers in Nigeria? Thats a higher number than British expats.

A few sightings of Chinese selling water, doesn't mean that much. In Buenos Aires you have a couple hundred Africans selling jewelry and other forms of bling, that doesn't mean their are alot of black people in Argentina lol.

The most famous CEO has to be Carlos Ghosn who runs Renault and Nissan (worldwide). He apparantly (according to wikipedia) named Fortune Man of the Year in 2003.

True say, but their similiar to Greeks in the way that they have to bend corners to get around. Thats why they exceed more in 3rd world countries than in wealthier ones. When I was in Nigeria, our main dealer was a Lebanese who carried a big bundle of cash in his right pocket, if we ever encountered any "trouble". :)

[Lydon]

Because Mbeki is afraid of Robert Mugabe and most ANC people see themselves as children compared to Zimbabwe, which gained independence 14 years before SA did. Mbeki thinks that by speaking up for SA that Robert Mugabe would call for land invasions in SA and may even go to SA and get the townships stirred up in his vitriol.

Also, Mbeki is afraid of the Africanist hardliners in his own party who actually love Robert Mugabe and even consider him to be their role model for SA. These people have even been quoted on the BBC and other sources as saying that they are prepared to do in SA what was done in Zimbabwe (wholesale seizures and nationalisation of white commercial farms and private property) even if it results in economic collapse and ruin. From their ghastly standpoint they say they would rather start over from scratch after the wholesale exodus of the whites and create an Africanist revolutionary state which is devoid of what they believe are the white "foreigners and settlers."

I think Thabo's thinking is screwed up about his "quiet diplomacy" just as his brother Moletsi Mbeki (another intellectual as bright as the president himself) has stated on record his misgivings about the SA's failed policy of dealing with the crisis in Zimbabwe. All the opposition parties in SA's Parliament are against SA's support for Mugabe. Even the Africanist-leaning PAC which long has sympathies for Mugabe has expressed support for the suffering and hardships suffered by the Zimbabwean people. Even the SACP and Cosatu, tripartite alliance partners of the ANC have condemned Mugabe and his tyranny in Zimbabwe.

I'm sorry but I found this quite funny. If Mugabe has so much power and intended to call for land invasions, don't you think he would have done this already. Currently Zimbabwe is a complete joke of a country under Mugabe's rule, and I'd like to see what he'd do if Mbeki withdrew his support.

[popa1980]

I very much doubt much more than 50,000 too.

[^Anton^]

I've read a book entitled White Africans, which was published last year by Jonathan Ball Publishers, based in Johannesburg. According to the book there are today only 5 million whites in all of Africa, including the 4 million in South Africa. Twenty years ago there were more than 6 million white Africans.

That depends, if you consider the Canary Islands part of Africa or not... it is a Spanish state of almost 2 million inhabitants.

Besides, the Spanish cities on the North of Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, have respectively 75,861 and 66,871 inhabitants, though many of them are of foreign origin.

[Matthias Offodile]

OK. for all the sceptics, the number of Chinese in Africa is truly massive. I found an article in "jeune afrique", a serious weekly magazine. The article was written in joint venture with New York Times and their sources of information were Xinhua ("Chinese media"). So simply read the article to clarify the issues.

The numbers of Chinese in Africa (entire Africa!!) are close to 750 000


750 000 Chinois, et nous, et nous

- 2 septembre 2007 - par HOWARD FRENCH ET LYDIE POLGREEN © THE NEW YORK TIMES ET JEUNE AFRIQUE 2007. TOUS DROITS RÉSERVÉS.

L’arrivée massive d’entrepreneurs venus de l’empire du Milieu pour investir sur le continent suscite l’inquiétude des travailleurs locaux.

Selon l’agence de presse chinoise Xinhua, il y aurait actuellement au moins 750 000 Chinois qui vivent ou travaillent de manière durable en Afrique. En 2006, les échanges économiques entre l’empire du Milieu et le continent se sont élevés à 55 milliards de dollars contre 10 millions par an une génération plus tôt.

L’arrivée des Chinois en Afrique date des années 1960 et 1970, à l’époque où les sociétés européennes et américaines avaient la haute main sur la plupart des activités économiques du continent.

Les Chinois travaillaient alors en équipes, construisaient des stades, des lignes de chemin de fer et des routes. Aujourd’hui, dans la plupart des pays où ils se sont installés, les immigrants chinois gèrent des pharmacies, des salons de massage et des restaurants.

Au début, cette nouvelle vague chinoise s’est essentiellement faite par le bouche à oreille. Les immigrants chinois ont fait connaître chez eux les opportunités qui s’offraient dans une région du monde où certains secteurs n’attendaient plus qu’à être développés. Contrairement aux investisseurs occidentaux, de nombreux jeunes entrepreneurs chinois sont attirés par les économies émergentes d’Afrique parce qu’elles semblent petites ou accessibles. La concurrence est souvent faible, voire inexistante, et pour les clients africains, le bas prix des produits et des services chinois les rend plus abordables que leurs équivalents occidentaux.

You Wianwen, 55 ans, a vendu, cette année, son atelier de plomberie de Chengdu, capitale de la province du Sichuan, pour s’installer à Addis-Abeba, en Éthiopie, et s’associer avec un compatriote rencontré sur Internet. « D’où je viens, nous sommes plutôt indépendants, raconte-t-il. Ma sœur et mes frères ont tous approuvé ma décision d’émigrer en Éthiopie. Ils m’ont même dit que si je réussissais, ils seraient prêts à venir me rejoindre. » Sa nouvelle société, ABC Bioenergy, fabrique du matériel qui permet de produire un gaz combustible à partir d’ordures ménagères. « Une bonne source d’énergie, explique-t-il, dans un pays où le courant électrique coûte cher et où les coupures sont fréquentes. » Son associé, Mei Haijun, est arrivé en Éthiopie il y a une dizaine d’années pour travailler dans un atelier de textile installé par des Chinois. « Au début, se souvient-t-il, je pouvais rester deux mois sans voir un autre Chinois. Les choses ont bien changé aujourd’hui. Il y a maintenant un vol vers la Chine tous les jours. »

Ce renforcement de la présence chinoise en Afrique a une explication évidente : l’empire du Milieu a le plus grand besoin du pétrole et des ressources minérales du continent pour alimenter son secteur industriel. Mais les grandes entreprises chinoises sont rapidement devenues de redoutables concurrentes dans bien d’autres domaines, notamment les travaux publics. Elles construisent de nouvelles lignes de chemin de fer au Nigeria et en Angola, d’énormes barrages au Soudan, des aéroports dans plusieurs pays et de nouvelles routes, semble-t-il, presque partout. L’un des plus grands entrepreneurs de travaux publics, China Road and Bridge Construction, compte pas moins de vingt-neuf chantiers en Afrique, dont un grand nombre financés par la Banque mondiale ou d’autres bailleurs, et dispose de bureaux dans vingt-deux pays du continent.

Les Africains regardent cette vague chinoise avec un mélange d’espoir et d’appréhension. Au Tchad, pays qui renforce ses liens pétroliers avec la Chine, les responsables économiques se préparent déjà à accueillir une armée d’ouvriers et d’investisseurs. « Nous nous attendons à voir débarquer au moins 40 000 Chinois dans les prochaines années, explique Renaud Dinguemnaial, président de la Chambre de commerce du Tchad. Cette arrivée massive pourrait être un plus pour notre économie, mais nous nous posons aussi des questions. Amèneront-ils avec eux leur personnel ? S’enfermeront-ils chez eux ? Renverront-ils tout leur argent en Chine ? »

En Zambie, les commerçants du marché central de Lusaka considèrent que si les Chinois veulent venir, ce doit être pour investir et pour construire, pas pour faire les boutiquiers. « Ils vont nous faire concurrence, juge Dorothy Mainga, qui vend des tee-shirts Harley-Davidson et des tennis Puma au marché de Kamwala. Ils proposent les mêmes articles que nous, mais à bas prix. Nous, nous payons des taxes et des impôts ; eux, ils profitent de leurs relations pour y échapper. »

Hormis l’enlèvement de techniciens du pétrole chinois au Nigeria et en Éthiopie, où neuf d’entre eux ont été tués par un mouvement séparatiste en mai dernier, les graves accrochages restent peu fréquents. Les points de friction, cependant, ne manquent pas. Dans beaucoup de pays, les Africains se plaignent que des Chinois occupent des emplois pour lesquels il existe des locaux qualifiés. « Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir des Chinois chez nous, au Malawi, affirme Dennis Phiri, un jeune homme de 21 ans qui fait des études d’ingénieur. Mais les entreprises chinoises réservent tous leurs emplois intéressants à des Chinois. Les Africains ne sont engagés que pour des boulots subalternes. »

Autre critique fréquente : les Chinois restent entre eux. De jour comme de nuit. Exemple typique, à Addis-Abeba, les deux cents employés de la China Road and Bridge Construction sont tous regroupés dans un quartier réservé, où ils prennent des repas préparés par des cuisiniers chinois et sont suivis par un médecin chinois. « Après un jour de congé, on se demande ce qu’on fait ici, confie Cheng Qian, le directeur régional pour l’Éthiopie. Nous préférons donc travailler tout le temps. » Depuis plusieurs années qu’il vit en Éthiopie, aucun membre de la famille de Cheng n’est encore venu le voir. « L’Afrique ne les intéresse pas. Si on était en Europe, ce serait différent. »

[Intoxication]

Nice informative thread! :)

My 1,600th post! :banana:

[Michaelda]

OK. for all the sceptics, the number of Chinese in Africa is truly massive. I found an article in "jeune afrique", a serious weekly magazine. The article was written in joint venture with New York Times and their sources of information were Xinhua ("Chinese media"). So simply read the article to clarify the issues.

The numbers of Chinese in Africa (entire Africa!!) are close to 750 000

these articles have reasons to exagerate china's presence on the continent

[Matthias Offodile]

Thriving Lebanese community in Gabon

I just stumbled over a very interesting article about the Lebanese and/o Gabonese of Lebanese origin. They are the strongest originally non-African community in Gabon (around 12 000 and growing) behind the French. The article tells - which is taken out of a Gabonese magazine, btw - about their huge economic contribution to Gabon, many of them are hard-working people with an acute sense of business. It is said that many Lebanese (of Muslim and Christian confession alike) were born in the country their (fore-)fathers once emigrated to and that they invest their money in Gabon which many consider their own country now. The main area of investment is restaurant, real estate from luxury to simple, construction, swanky nightclubs and bars, bakeries, wood-processing, etc. The Lebanese in Gabon are among the richest business people in the country, though. They are criticized that their women rarely mix with the original Gabonese men as opposed to the French women but younger Lebanese men who are born in Gabon and who define themselves as Gabonese do marry original Gabonese women. SomeLebanese and some Gabonese sociologists who were interviewed said that the Lebanese mixed-race people in Gabon are among the strongest in Africa and growing in recent years. Suprisngly, the Gabonese government is even fostering the ties with Lebanon and wishes to tap more of their business expertise. It is also said that the Lebanese business community is well connected internationally, not just those in Africa but also those in France, Brazil and beyond. There is also an interview with one Lebanese family in Gabon who were among the early Lebanese settlers in Gabon

I am sorry the article is only in French but highyl interesting to read!


Les Libanais du Gabon : entre les clichés et la vérité


Plus de vingt ans de guerres ont ravagé le pays du Cèdre, obligeant ses enfants à s’exiler un peu partout dans le monde, y compris au Gabon. Et, comme beaucoup d’immigrés qui font des affaires, la communauté libanaise charrie les idées reçues, les préjugés et les clichés à la limite de la malveillance. Leur réussite, notamment au Gabon, suscite à la fois l’envie et un certain rejet.

Si on doit reconnaître qu’ils cultivent le cloisonnement communautaire et que nombre d’entre eux sont magouilleurs, “m’as-tu-vu” ou arrivistes, ils n’en sont pas moins de formidables hommes d’affaires et constituent l’une des communautés étrangères les plus riches du Gabon. Que pensent d’eux les Gabonais ? Qu’en est-il réellement ? Comment fonctionnent-ils ? Et quel est leur apport dans le développement des affaires du pays ?

Rencontre avec ces Gabonais d’adoption qu’on aime bien critiquer.

Bilal Dagher Ngouamassana et Jean-Pierre Charkawi, tous deux gabonais d’origine libanaise, ont été mis sous mandat de dépôt, le 6 avril 2007, pour faux en écriture de commerce. Leur complice, Tarek Ngouamassana se serait enfui au Liban. Après la signature, en 2004, d’une convention avec le gouvernement gabonais en vue de l’informatisation du casier judiciaire, leur société, Logicom, a encaissé 350 millions de F.CFA et Hassan Charkawi a été dépêché à Beyrouth où il s’est approvisionné, pour 10 millions de F.CFA, en ordinateurs de seconde main qui n’ont pas manqué de tomber très vite en panne les uns après les autres. L’entourloupette avait permis aux trois complices de se partager environ 298 millions de F.CFA.

Cette anecdote qui met en scène des libanais aux noms gabonais, aurait pu avoir pour acteurs des ressortissants de n’importe quelle autre nationalité. Elle n’est pas pour redorer le blason de la communauté libanaise et de nombreux Gabonais ne retiennent que ce genre d’histoires pour asseoir leur opinion négative sur les Libanais qui, d’ailleurs, se sont souvent vus imputer de nombreux maux : marché noir, trafic de drogue, fraude fiscale ou corruption à tout va. On leur reproche également de se croire en terre conquise et de cultiver une vie communautaire hermétique. Toutes choses qui tiennent parfois du cliché mal développé mais qui ne traduisent qu’une seule réalité : La réussite des Libanais, dans un pays d’adoption pas toujours complaisant pour les étrangers, dérange non seulement les Gabonais mais aussi les hommes d’affaires des autres communautés étrangères qui n’apprécient que très mal leur concurrence.

Des cèdres sous l’équateur

Au Gabon, la communauté libanaise a longtemps eu entre 6000 et 8000 membres. Ce chiffre tournerait autour de 12 000 depuis l’avènement du conflit ivoirien qui a obligé bon nombre de Libanais de Côte-d’Ivoire à immigrer au Gabon. La communauté libanaise est la plus grande communauté non-africaine au Gabon derrière les Francais. Si bien qu’on parle d’une nouvelle vague libanaise et d’une démarcation, pas toujours perceptible, entre les anciens et les nouveaux Libanais du Gabon.

Si la vague arrivée dans les années 70 exerçait essentiellement dans la distribution et se montrait quelque peu discrète, hormis le tapage nocturne de quelques enfants en quête de reconnaissance, à l’instar de Ali Bitar qui a défrayé la chronique mondaine au milieu des années 80, l’arrivée de la vague dite ivoirienne correspond en même temps à une diversification des créneaux de l’ancienne vague et à une évolution du mode de vie de la communauté en général.

Depuis le début des années 90 en effet, les ressortissants du pays du cèdre se font beaucoup plus remarquer que par le passé. La génération des pionniers discrets a été de plus en plus remplacée par une autre qui s’affiche dans des lieux publics, notamment à l’hôtel “Atlantique” et au cinéma “Le Majestic”. Elle customise les véhicules pour les rendre plus voyants, adopte une conduite automobile bruyante qui mêle crissements des pneus et volume musical assourdissant, exhibe de grosses berlines allemandes ou des véhicules 4X4 de grand standing mais aussi des vêtements et accessoires (montres, lunettes, chaussures et ceintures) dont les griffes sont mises en évidence avec ostentation.

Les jeunes gabonais ne voient pas ce spectacle du bon œil alors qu’il ne s’agit pas pour ces Libanais de narguer les autochtones. Un jeune Libanais nommé Amin explique : “Ce n’est pas par rapport au Gabonais que le Libanais frime. C’est pour montrer à un autre Libanais que ça marche pour lui. Si le Libanais s’achète la dernière voiture c’est par rapport à un autre Libanais qui a acquis le modèle précédent. C’est pour montrer à ce dernier que lui aussi a réussi au même titre que le premier. Il y a une sorte de concurrence entre nous et c’est peut-être ça qui nous fait avancer. Mais ce n’est valable que pour ceux dont la réussite n’est que matérielle. Ceux qui ont réussi intellectuellement ne s’adonnent pas à ce genre de démonstration. Je ne prendrais que l’exemple du Dr Nabil qui est à Glass. Il est respecté de la communauté pour sa compétence et son statut de docteur. Il n’a pas besoin d’une grosse voiture pétaradante ou de s’habiller à la dernière mode pour se faire voir dans la communauté.”

La frime n’est pourtant pas le seul reproche fait aux Libanais du Gabon. Les Libanais sont également pointés du doigt pour leur repli communautaire. On ne voit pas leurs enfants dans les lycées où vont les Gabonais et ces derniers sont exaspérés par cette non intégration des Libanais dans la société gabonaise. S’il existe des liaisons sentimentales entre Gabonais et Libanaises du Gabon, celles-ci seraient à sens unique. En ceci que seuls les Libanais du genre masculin sortent avec des Gabonaises, l’inverse étant du jamais vu, sauf si la Libanaise est métisse. Abel M, journaliste, note avec véhémence : “Les Françaises, filles de nos anciens colonisateurs, ont des échanges très charnels avec les Gabonais. Mais ce type de relations est presque inexistant avec les Libanaises.”

Un autre journaliste gabonais Timothée M. note : “Dans les segments de la distribution, les produits sont de moins bonne qualité, quand ils ne frisent pas la pacotille. On ne peut pas y trouver une chaussure de bonne facture. Le simili cuir est devenu la norme et Abibas est éhontément vendu à la place d’Adidas. Le journal “La Lowé” a fait état en 2003 de sept containers de viande avariée commandés par un commerçant Libanais et qui avait réussi à les sortir du port d’Owendo malgré l’opposition des agents du service d’hygiène.” Le même Timothée surenchérit : “Les Libanais ont grignoté aux entreprises occidentales, Sobéa, Socoba, Dragages et autres, des parts de marché dans le secteur du BTP. Si la concurrence est gage d’émulation, avec les Libanais, ce secteur a inventé les magouilles les plus criardes avec un non-respect des normes en terme de résistance des matériaux, une architecture minimaliste et expéditive. Regardez la zone du carrefour Léon Mba : en guise d’édifices il n’y a que des cages à lapins.”

Toutes ces déclarations illustrent le malaise qui prévaut parfois dans les rapports entre Libanais et Gabonais. Ce, en dépit des réalisations louables et de la contribution de cette communauté au développement du pays. Ainsi que le note Albert Bourgi, professeur à l’université de Champagne-Ardenne (Reims) dans un opuscule intitulé “Libanais en Afrique ou d’Afrique ?” : “Les Libanais ont su mobiliser des fonds pour construire des écoles, des dispensaires, des hôpitaux, voire des mosquées… [Pourtant leur] marginalisation est attestée, entre autres, par le nombre relativement faible de naturalisations. Dans l’ensemble, les communautés libanaises ont toujours observé une sorte de “ devoir de réserve ” vis-à-vis des pays hôtes, sans se désintéresser totalement du destin politique de ceux-ci. Dans nombre d’entre eux, elles ont soutenu financièrement les formations politiques qui ne leur étaient pas hostiles.”

Le plaidoyer pro domo des Libanais

De nombreux Libanais soutiennent que les Gabonais leur font un mauvais procès et que tout cela est dû à un refus de comprendre. Walid Moukarim (Cf. Interview en page 22) tente quelques explications : “Plus de 70% des Libanais vivant au Gabon sont des musulmans et ont des coutumes assez contraignantes. Notamment avec les femmes qui doivent rester effacées. Étant moins exposées donc moins visibles, elles sont naturellement moins sollicitées par les hommes des autres communautés. Les traditions musulmanes stipulent d’ailleurs qu’une femme ne se met avec un homme que pour les besoins du mariage. Si bien qu’il n’y a pas de place pour le flirt sans avenir chez la fille libanaise [ndlr : Les Libanaises du Liban sont, en fait, loin d’être aussi farouches que cela et disposent d’une réputation très... libérale dans leur pays !]. Quant à la fréquentation des écoles, les Libanais sont toujours allés dans les lycées du Gabon avec tout le monde. J’ai moi-même appris au lycée Léon Mba. C’est la multiplication des grèves et la baisse générale de la qualité de l’enseignement qui font que les Libanais, comme beaucoup de Gabonais ayant des moyens, envoient leurs enfants étudier à l’étranger que ce soit en Afrique de l’Ouest ou en Europe.”

Amin, le jeune Libanais déjà cité explique le repli communautaire des Libanais d’une autre manière : “Les Gabonais eux-mêmes, et entre eux, cultivent des clivages souvent déterminés par l’ethnie. Plus fort, ils n’ouvrent pas leurs portes aux étrangers. Ils sont très souvent méfiants. Faites un mois au Congo et vous pourrez faire la différence du nombre d’invitations que vous recevrez à dîner chez l’habitant. Au Gabon, personne ne vous invite chez lui. Comment voulez-vous créer des liens solides… Quand un Libanais s’installe dans un pays, il vient pour y rester. Il cherche à accéder à la propriété immobilière et à consolider ses relations avec les membres de la communauté hôte. Mais le Gabonais est en général froid avec le Libanais, même s’il y a des exceptions.” Pourtant, par rapport à d’autres pays d’Afrique, affirme le même Amin, “il y a beaucoup plus de métis Libanais au Gabon. Ce qui traduit quand même des échanges forts entre les deux communautés et devrait tordre le cou à la méfiance des Gabonais envers les Libanais.”
Beaucoup plus scientifique, le professeur Albert Bourgi explique autrement ce “cloisonnement” communautaire : “L’organisation communautaire des Libanais d’Afrique est un moyen d’affirmation de leur “ libanité ”, un instrument d’entraide et de solidarité, en l’absence duquel ils n’auraient pu pérenniser leur fonction économique particulière et le lieu d’expression de leurs confessions. Il n’y a pas UNE, mais DES communautés libanaises en Afrique. Depuis la guerre du Liban, les émigrés libanais ont apporté une assistance constante à leurs compatriotes, mais sur une base purement confessionnelle. […] Le malaise entre les Libanais d’Afrique et leur pays d’adoption pourrait peu à peu s’estomper. Les nouvelles générations partagent, pour la plupart de leurs membres, une communauté de destin avec les populations autochtones. Sur le plan de l’habitat, ils sont, comme l’ont été leurs parents, insérés parmi ces dernières : il n’y a pas, dans les villes africaines, de quartier libanais. Le nombre croissant des unions mixtes, entre Africains et Libanais, a progressé au cours des dernières années, ce qui contribue à faciliter l’immersion des communautés libanaises au sein des sociétés nationales, voire – et de plus en plus – leur apport au développement économique et social.”

Quand on leur reproche d’avoir construit une mosquée climatisée et exclusive non loin du Pont-Nomba et de ne pas aller au culte avec les autres musulmans de Libreville, un Libanais rencontré dans un café argumente : “La mosquée est par définition un lieu de partage et de communion. On n’image même pas un musulman interdisant l’accès d’un lieu de prière à un autre. Ce serait aller contre les principes de l’Islam. Les Libanais se sentent sans doute mieux dans cette mosquée mais n’en interdisent l’accès à aucune autre communauté. Est-ce qu’on reproche aux Haoussas de préférer la mosquée du Commissariat central ou celle de Nombakélé ? Est-ce qu’on reproche aux Mauritaniens de ne pas aller à la mosquée avec les autres ?”

A chaque reproche fait à la communauté libanaise du Gabon, s’oppose un argument qui met en évidence des incompréhensions. Et on se rend compte que les mêmes griefs pourraient être faits à d’autres communautés étrangères vivant au Gabon.

Lauriers et contributions

Jean-Pierre, un Libanais de la nouvelle vague explique qu’un Libanais du Gabon sera toujours et partout un Gabonais : “Même au Liban, on se regroupe selon les pays dont nous sommes résidents permanents. De nombreux jeunes Libanais qui ont grandi au Gabon, réapprennent l’arabe quand ils vont au pays et on les appelle “les Gabonais”. Ces Gabonais du pays du cèdre défendront le Gabon partout où ils iront dans le monde, parce que c’est leur patrie.” Il semble en effet que le Libanais est chez lui là où il se sent bien et là où il a immigré. Ce qui explique leur inclination à construire : “On ne construit pas dans un pays que l’on n’aime pas ou dans un pays que l’on envisage quitter un jour”, soutient le jeune Jean-Pierre.

Lorsqu’on leur demande ce que leur communauté a apporté au Gabon, tous les Libanais interrogés ont un discours quasi identique : “Nous avons contribué à changer le paysage urbain de Libreville, parce que nous construisons. Plus de la moitié des derniers immeubles sortis de terre à Libreville sont l’œuvre des Libanais. Il n’y a qu’à voir les résidences “Les Florias” en face de l’ancien hôtel Dialogue, les immeubles du quartier Glass ou le tout dernier, l’immeuble panoramique en face de Centr’Affaires à Rénovation. Nous avons amené au quartier des produits qui n’y seraient jamais allés et avons contribué à moderniser les habitudes alimentaires du pays.”

A un niveau plus institutionnel et politique, l’État gabonais semble avoir saisi le dynamisme de cette communauté dont les flux financiers proviennent d’une diaspora intercontinentale et peuvent rivaliser avec ceux de certains pays occidentaux. De nombreux accords ont ainsi été passés entre le Liban et le Gabon qui établissent des relations commerciales et économiques. A titre d’exemple, le président Omar Bongo Ondimba entouré de quelques ministres concernés, avait reçu en juillet 2003 une délégation d’hommes d’affaires Libanais. Selon les termes du quotidien “L’union”, la rencontre avait permis de passer en revue les volets prioritaires des accords signés quelques mois plus tôt à Beyrouth concernant des projets dans les domaines de l’industrie, de l’assurance maladie, de l’industrie pharmaceutique, du bois ainsi que de la construction des logements. Il avait même été envisagé d’ouvrir une ligne aérienne directe entre Beyrouth et Libreville à laquelle devait s’ajouter une liaison maritime. Les perturbations qu’enregistre le Liban ralentissent sans doute la concrétisation de ces accords mais on peut être sûrs que ce pays a des choses à apporter au Gabon.

On voit bien que les reproches faits aux Libanais du Gabon tiennent de la méconnaissance de cette communauté et que les mêmes griefs pourraient être faits à bien d’autres ressortissants étrangers. Contrairement aux Libanais, certaines de ces autres communautés rapatrient tous les gains financiers chez eux. Comme disait quelqu’un : “Les immeubles que construisent les Libanais resteront pour toujours au Gabon.” Les Libanais aussi. Inch’Allah !

L’extraordinaire monsieur Hejeij


Un mètre quatre-vingt environ, grosse moustache, visage carré et physique bien proportionné pour son âge, Hassan Hejeij incarne la réussite de la communauté libanaise au Gabon. A l’antipode de l’attitude ostentatoire de ses compatriotes, l’homme est discret et sobre. Il parle bas, hausse très rarement le ton et jouit d’une réputation de bonne moralité et de modestie. Les Libanais sont avares de succes stories et ils ne racontent que très rarement quel coup de poker ou de génie leur a permis de réussir. Ce qu’on sait de Hassan Hejiej est une collection d’anecdotes qui tiennent sans doute parfois de la légende.

Sa marche vers la fortune commence dans les années 1960. Il travaille alors sur un chantier dans une région de la Libye frontalière du Tchad et y rencontre un militaire gabonais en fuite à cause du coup d’État qui avait eu lieu au Gabon en 1964. Celui-ci lui vante son pays, ses immenses potentialités en pétrole, en mines et en affaires. Hassan Hejeij décide de découvrir ce pays et il y arrive quelques temps après. Il y trouve un embryon de communauté libanaise et travaille comme charpentier auprès du patriarche de la famille Gandhour, des libanais de longue implantation au Gabon.

Il serait après quoi devenu tâcheron et les vieux librevillois se souviennent de ce travailleur acharné dont la mobylette transportait toujours une caisse à outils. La légende veut qu’il ait rencontré un jour, une très grande dame du pays, sans doute la Première Dame à l’époque. Cette bonne fée lui aurait ouvert bien de portes y compris celle qui mène à l’Olympe gabonais et à Zeus. La prospérité de Hassan Hejiej a ainsi été boostée. Même si tout n’a pas été toujours rose, clair et net, l’entreprise de Monsieur Hejeij a gagné ses lettres de noblesses pour être la toute première des petites à contrebalancer le poids des géants traditionnels du BTP au Gabon.

La Société de construction et de financement immobilier (SOCOFI), qu’il a créé en 1970, est aujourd’hui le mastodonte des entreprises libanaises au Gabon et Hassan Hejeij est, avec son frère Kassem, le président de la communauté libanaise du Gabon. Agé de 65 ans, Hassan Hejiej vit désormais entre le Liban et le Gabon. Il continue d’intervenir pour décanter telle ou telle situation et veille à la réputation de sa communauté. Il n’hésite pas à peser de son poids ou à faire intervenir la très haute hiérarchie pour rapatrier au Liban ou faire expulser des membres de la communauté empêtrés dans un problème juridique qui pourrait ternir l’image de la communauté libanaise au Gabon.

À Libreville, Hassan Hejeij a entièrement fait reconstruire, à ses frais, la Mosquée de Nombakélé. Mais, les chiffres de sa fortune réelle ne filtrent pas. On sait seulement, de bouche à oreille, que Socofi s’est déployé en Guinée Équatoriale, au Congo Brazzaville et en Angola. Que cette entreprise possède des cités et de nombreux immeubles à Libreville et qu’elle continue d’acquérir des biens, à l’instar de l’achat récent du Golf Club Mindoubé de Libreville. Mais tout cela ne représenterait qu’une petite portion des avoirs d’Hassan Hejeij à travers le monde. Il posséderait par exemple, depuis 1991, une banque au Liban, la MEABANK, ayant succursale à Paris, une usine de matelas et une autre de jouets au Liban ainsi que l’hôtel le plus luxueux de son pays d’origine.

De l’avis de nombreux observateurs, il sera difficile que les affaires au Gabon d’Hassan Hejeij lui survivent. Il est non seulement la pièce maîtresse de son système mais la jeune génération de sa famille élargie ne travaille presque pas et se contente de jouir des fruits du labeur de celui qui est devenu le vrai patriarche des Libanais du Gabon. Et lorsqu’on dit “Le Vieux Hassan”, tout le monde au Gabon sait de qui il s’agit.

Lebanon business

Les Libanais sont une minorité tellement visible qu’on pourrait penser qu’ils sont dans tous les secteurs de l’économie gabonaise. Si on est sûr d’un quasi monopole, grignoté aujourd’hui par les Maliens et dans une moindre mesure les Chinois, dans la distribution et le commerce général (épiceries, grands magasins, automobile), les capitaux libanais ne se retrouvent jamais dans les industries extractives (mines, pétrole) ou encore dans les services à forte technicité ou savoir-faire (assurances, banques, télécommunication).

On ne saurait nier leur présence dans le BTP et la promotion immobilière. Dans ce dernier secteur, ils construisent des immeubles sur baux emphytéotiques et les mettent en location ou alors, lorsqu’ils ont acquis des terrains, les immeubles ou villas construits sont ensuite revendus avec une forte plus value. Ce qui permet de lever d’énormes capitaux pouvant être réinvestis.

Généralement, un Libanais n’arrive jamais au Gabon sans y avoir un pied-à-terre. Aussi ne faut-il pas penser qu’ils partent de rien ainsi que le ferait un Malien ou un Camerounais. Très souvent, la famille d’accueil hébergera le nouveau venu et l’emploiera dans ses structures lorsqu’il ne lui fournira pas des moyens pour démarrer une affaire. Certains partiront du statut d’employé pour arriver à celui de promoteur d’affaires. D’autres, moins ambitieux, resteront longtemps de simples salariés.

Les Libanais nouvellement arrivés investissent tout d’abord dans des branches où ils seront les sous-traitant de ceux qui y sont déjà implantés. On investira, par exemple, dans une menuiserie qui fournira des boiseries sur les chantiers de ceux qui sont dans la construction. Ou alors, ils investissent dans la vente de produits à forte demande (alimentation, pharmacie - en association avec des Gabonais -, pièces détachées, petites usines, etc.) et dans les secteurs nécessitant un ticket d’entrée onéreux mais ayant un fort retour d’investissement (automobile d’occasion, exploitation forestière, carrière de sable ou de gravier, transport lourd).

Dans tous les secteurs où ils s’impliquent, nombreux d’entre eux n’hésitent pas à arroser tous ceux qui ont une parcelle de pouvoir et il est souvent raconté qu’ils sont les maîtres des marchés de gré à gré ou alors qu’ils profitent des failles du système pour obtenir quelques avantages. Mais, ceci n’est pas l’apanage des seuls Libanais. Un officier de Gendarmerie affecté à la Direction générale de la recherche (DGR) assure que 8 marchés sur dix réalisés par Socofi sont obtenus de gré à gré. Il affirme également que les dispositions du code des marchés publics sont souvent contournées par les entreprises dont les promoteurs sont de diverses nationalités et pas seulement Libanais. Aussi cet officier ne voit-il pas pourquoi les entreprises libanaises sont les seules à être indexées quant à certaines dérives.

Le monde des affaires est truffé de requins et les différends ne manquent pas entre Libanais eux-mêmes. Seulement ces problèmes n’arrivent au tribunal que si la communauté n’a pas réussi une conciliation.


Interview
Walid Moukarim : “Aujourd’hui, pour faire de l’argent au Gabon, il faut être beaucoup plus professionnel qu’avant”

Directeur d’une entreprise qui a fait ses preuves et qui continue son bonhomme de chemin, Walid Moukarim est l’un de ces Gabonais d’origine libanaise qui brisent les clichés qu’on se fait sur les Libanais. Sans doute parce qu’il appartient à l’ancienne vague d’immigration qui ne voulait pas réussir vite et par tous les moyens. Il incarne des valeurs et tient en effet un discours sans langue de bois qui permet de lever bien de quiproquos sur la communauté libanaise du Gabon.

Comment vous présentez-vous aux gens ?
Je suis Walid Moukarim. Je suis né ici il y a 40 ans et je suis de nationalité gabonaise. Je suis le patron de Génie TP, une entreprise de bâtiment et travaux publics qui fait de la construction de bâtiment tous corps d’État. J’ai à mon actif cinq bâtiments construits, notamment pour des organismes comme le Camp de Gaulle. Je fais des routes jusqu’au niveau de la latérite. Je passe le goudron en sous-traitance avec de grosses entreprises comme Colas. Nous faisons toutes sortes de terrassements, de buses, de caniveaux, de dalots, de ponts et tout ce qui concerne les travaux publics. Nous avons le matériel nécessaire : des compacteurs, des bulldozers, des chargeurs, des niveleuses, tout ce qu’il faut aussi bien pour faire des bâtiments que pour faire des routes. Je suis entouré de compétences entièrement gabonaises : ingénieur béton, ingénieur travaux publics, architectes et bien sûr tout le personnel qualifié pour les engins et pour tout ce que nous faisons.

En parlant de la communauté libanaise au Gabon, on dit que votre famille est l’une des premières arrivées au Gabon. Vous confirmez ?
Nous sommes effectivement l’une des premières familles syro-libanaise arrivée au Gabon. Mon grand-père est arrivé ici par bateau dans les années 40, au temps des comptoirs. Mon père et mon oncle sont également arrivés par bateau. Depuis, ils sont restés ici, ils y ont construit et tous leurs biens sont au Gabon. Certains de mes oncles sont nés ici et depuis nous avons toujours été ici.

Les Libanais du Gabon sont pour la plupart dans les affaires. N’y en a-t-il pas donc aucun qui se soit formé à des métiers dits de pointe ou des métiers nécessitant une haute formation ?
Il y en a, mais le public ne le remarque peut-être pas. Il y a des médecins Libanais en chirurgie, en réanimation ou en ORL dans des cliniques privées mais aussi à l’hôpital militaire. On compte aussi des ingénieurs, comme moi. Il y a même une avocate. La communauté compte des gens ayant reçu des formations de qualité mais ils sont minoritaires dans l’ensemble. Une bonne partie des Libanais d’ici viennent du Sud Liban et ont connu vingt ans de guerres. Ce qui rend les études difficiles. La principale issue est donc le commerce ou, lorsqu’on a un métier allant dans ce sens, le bâtiment, le transport.

Pourtant, l’essentiel de la communauté se retrouve dans la distribution…
Il faut peut-être remonter avant l’époque du Grand–Liban. Depuis la Phénicie antique, les Libanais, qui sont des nomades, ont toujours fait du commerce. Ils ont donc une tradition ou une âme de commerçant. Mais il faudra remarquer que dans des familles comme les Moukarim, les Awar, les Bitar, il y a des gens qui font du bâtiment, du mobilier et de l’immobilier. La distribution se remarque plus, notamment à Nombakélé ou à Mont-Bouët et on ne devra pas oublier que de tradition, le commerce est le premier métier qu’un Libanais apprend de ses parents.
Les Libanais sont perçus comme des requins en affaires. Comment, le jeune requin Walid Moukarim perçoit-il le monde des affaires au Gabon ?
Je pense que le Gabon est un pays ouvert à tout le monde. Mais, pour y faire de l’argent aujourd’hui, il faut être beaucoup plus professionnel qu’avant. Pour n’en rester qu’à mon domaine qui est le BTP, beaucoup croient qu’il suffit de quelques pelles ou pioches pour faire du bâtiment. Mais, avec la concurrence de plus en plus accrue, il faut faire la différence par la qualité. Et pour faire de qualité, il faut du personnel qualifié et du matériel professionnel qui remplisse tous les critères. Je pense que l’avenir du Gabon est positif : Le pays est en paix, il y a encore du pétrole et de nombreuses ressources minières. Il y a encore beaucoup de choses à faire dans de nombreux secteurs mais il faut être à la hauteur. Ne pas se lancer parce qu’on compte sous-traiter ou louer du matériel. Ce qui réduit fortement les marges et explique que certaines entreprises périclitent. Il faut noter que les grandes entreprises telles que Colas, Socoba, Satom ou autres sont un peu repues. Elles ont tellement de commandes qu’il est toujours possible d’en obtenir de la sous-traitance. Le professionnalisme est donc de plus en plus le critère pour se faire une place.

Que pourriez-vous reprocher à la communauté libanaise en matière de business ?
Un reproche pourrait être qu’ils attaquent tous les secteurs sans professionnalisme. Beaucoup, par exemple, vont se mettre dans le bâtiment parce qu’il y a à construire ou dans l’alimentaire parce que c’est porteur. Ce, sans professionnalisme aucun ou connaissance du secteur. Il n’y aura donc aucune valeur ajoutée et malheureusement, il faut dire la vérité, il y a quand même beaucoup de corruption. Le Libanais de base veut absolument faire de l’argent, il se lancera en copiant ce qui semble marcher. S’il réalise que Gabon-Pneu fait de l’argent, il se lancera dans la vente de pneus. Si une pâtisserie marche, il fera de la pâtisserie. Pareil pour les meubles ou autre chose. La conséquence c’est qu’il fera des produits de seconde qualité du recyclé ou de l’à-peu-près et il ne va pas durer. Seuls les professionnels, ceux qui respectent les normes et font de la qualité, durent. Il y en a dans la communauté, surtout parmi les anciens du Gabon. Ce suivisme entache parfois l’image de la communauté.

Quelles qualités pouvez-vous attribuer à la communauté libanaise, quels coups d’éclat ?
Ce qu’il y a de bien chez le Libanais, c’est que c’est un bosseur. Il se lèvera à 6 h, bossera jusqu’à minuit et même s’il a fermé son magasin, il vous ouvrira pour vendre si vous frappez à sa porte. C’est un bel exemple qui peut être imité et qui est déjà imité par certains Gabonais. Par ailleurs, le Libanais est généralement loyal et quand il arrive dans un pays, il ne vient pas pour prendre et repartir. Il a toujours l’amour du pays où il vit. C’est pourquoi, il cherche toujours à construire ou à acquérir une maison. Et c’est là un autre apport des Libanais : Lorsqu’ils ne sont pas l’œuvre de Gabonais, la plupart des édifices remarquables qui ont été construits à Libreville ces dernières décennies sont l’œuvre des Libanais. La communauté libanaise contribue donc au modelage du paysage urbain gabonais. Les entreprises libanaises créent de l’emploi et contribuent à la redistribution des richesses du pays. Parce qu’elle voyage beaucoup, cette communauté apporte ici beaucoup de nouveautés qu’elle capte un peu partout dans le monde. Je préfère m’en tenir à ces généralités.

Publié le 19-12-2007 Source : Business Gabon