20100824
Nation

London — The British government is threatening to withhold aid from resource rich African countries who have failed to show improvements in the transparency of government.

In echoes of the last Conservative government 20 years ago, the UK coalition government says it is prepared to review and cut off aid payments to poor countries with mining wealth that is being diverted by corrupt leaderships.

The Department for International Development (DFID) has particular concerns over Sierra Leone, where Britain has been closely involved in nation building since a military intervention in 2000.

There the government of President Ernest Koroma has been accused of corruption in recent mining deals.

"I'm watching particularly carefully how Sierra Leone intends to exploit its mineral [resources]," Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"It is an important issue that requires openness and transparency and if not I am prepared to act." Mr Mitchell also said the focus would be on "making British aid more effective in reducing poverty through improved transparency and value for money."

However critics asked questions as to how the aid emphasis would be implemented after coalition plans were revealed to cut £560,000 a year from monitoring of human rights failures around the world.