Well, there's a famine which has messed up everyone in the area, there are precious few African nations who do well, and they fight, often encouraged by First World economic interests, including diamonds and medal.

The country with basic industries owned by the government is failing because of that. The others have problems because of corruption, war, famine, etc., etc.

This sort of reminds me of the Cuban refugees. Every single one of them trying to get to the US is a political refugee, fleeing a repressive, Communist regime, only wanting to live free. All they have to do is touch solid ground, and they are home free. 'Cause they are fleeing the regime of one of the most brutal men on Earth.

On the other hand, the Mexicans who come to the US are economic refugees, looking for a way to make a living. Given a chance they will deprive a citizen of a job, of a way to provide for him or herself and his or her family. They need to be deported, fast.

In reality, an emerging nation may well need a directed economy as it develops it's basic industries, gears up it's educational process, builds an infrastructure.

There is very, very little more valuable to an emerging nation than an educated population. And usually the individuals in an emerging nation doesn't have the wherewithal to pay to send their kids to school. That has to be paid by something, and the best way is the government.

If you go to many of the African agencies, the financial infrastructure is run by foreigners, often East Indians. That's because they are educated and knowledgeable in banking and borrowing. For the local population to get out of what is effectively poverty or economic slavery, they need to be educated.

It's much like space exploration. That is funded by governments until there is the infrastructure, including reliable rockets, the products for which there is a demand, and the markets to take over.

Capitalism is great. It's just not everything, for every situation.
Hell, you'd have soldiers buying bullets from their local gun shop. Could do it cheaper that way. Any soldier not buying a bullet deserves to get shot.

One of the astronauts should own the canteen up there, NASA could sell them the franchise. Another could purchase the oxygen supply, and sell it to his buddies. And the third might bid on the water recycling equipment. After all, if he buys it, he should derive the benefits from it's product.

Arf