Sir, - David Beggs (January 13th) both exaggerates the danger of continental war in Africa and fails to offer any hope for the peoples of Africa. He further overemphasises the importance of Western opinion and, by implication, his own and other NGOs' significance.
Mr Begg suggests we should use our influence on behalf of ordinary Africans. But how? May I suggest that one way to do so would be by helping to strengthen African institutions and supporting African leaders such as Mr Musoveri of Uganda and Mr Kagame of Rwanda in their efforts to find African solutions to the inherited mess of colonialism and the Cold War. The semi-detached nature of much aid activity in Africa is a further source of division which Africa does not need.
Lastly, may I say that portraying millions of "ordinary" Africans as helpless victims is a distortion of the real picture of African political debate, small business development, hard-working farmers and eager students which I know. - Yours, etc., Martin Lacey,
Strand Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4.