What's Wrong With Africa?
The abysmal economic performance of Africa is well known, but the professional foreign aid crowd never seems to notice that most African governments are startlingly corrupt. Throwing money at them just feathers the governing elite's nest and leaves the bulk of the people no better off.

Matthew Parris recounts an extended anecdote in the Times (UK) about a plane flight with some members of the elite that provides insight into the problem. If you didn't know the African term, "waBenzi", for the foppish elite, it's an eye opener. If you did, well, it's old home week.