A very interesting report by the BBC on TV last night about the Central African Republic.

Known mainly for torture and the dictatorship of President Bokassa in the 1970's who built a cathedral larger than Notre Dame in the middle of the jungle and crowned himself Emperor.

With one third of that year's aid budget for the coronation alone.

The French military eventually helped depose him and gave him political asylum despite detailed accounts of torture, murder and cannibalism.

Bokassa along with Idi Amin represents perhaps the ultimate failure of the West in helping secure democracy and good governance in Africa in the last 30 years.

The last remnant of African dictators and war criminals is now President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea - the target of the "Wonga Coup" by Simon Mann and Mark Thatcher four years ago, and the Frederick Forsyth "Dogs of War" coup of the 1970's.

Equatorial Guinea produces one-third of Africa's oil.

And the TV show last night?

It showed French soldiers - or part of an EU training mission - helping train the Central African Republic soldiers.

Chad, CAR and Djibouti and parts of the Congo represent the bulk of French and EU military support.

And a road trip through CAR showed 30 miles of villages and houses burned and the people driven into the jungle by the military to prevent them falling into rebel control.

And schools?

The only permanent structure in each village was the school.

A simple breezeblock and concrete structure with blackboard, desks and benches.

Waiting for the return of the teachers and villagers.

And the protection of their army and France's.