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Agricultural aid in the form of equipment and inputs were specifically called for. It is hoped that this will address Africa's food shortages. 

It was however noted by advocacy group Debt, AIDS and Trade in Africa that since the last summit in Scotland the G8 leaders had failed to deliver on their commitment to double aid to Africa by 2010. The group claims that the revised target of $25 billion and cancelling debt targets would not be realised at current trends. At present they estimate $3 billion has been delivered.

The crisis in Zimbabwe was also touched on – US President George Bush and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete stood side by side and expressed the view that the elections were conducted in an unacceptable manner with Bush going further by denouncing Robert Mugabe’s claim to the presidency as being illegitimate.

Usman Mohammed – senior political science professor at the University of Abuja in Nigeria says he believes full delivery on promises made by the G8 to Africa will not be achieved. He notes the possibility of shifting power in Washington as being a possible hurdle to US pledges: “well, a lame duck president cannot go far to hold anybody accountable, especially towards the twilight of the end of his administration.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on the eve of the summit that the global economic slowdown and the increasing volatility of home markets should in no way hamper the delivery of aid to Africa. However it is hard to see how current economic conditions will not hinder the resolve of delivering to Africa at this year’s summit.

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