Following the Money

It has become customary to trace the financial tracks of former African leaders who steal the money of their peoples and put them in foreign banks. The most recent case is Charles Taylor of Liberia. It is, however, very unfortunate that, in most cases, this happens after said leaders have fallen out of the favor of their foreign patrons. The best time to follow the money trails of these leaders is when they are in power rather than when they are out of it. Perhaps the best place to start is not only with the banks but rather with the companies that sell weapons to, and do other covert businesses with, African leaders.