Analyse
The statement matches a **2002 *Spectator* editorial** (then-edited by Johnson) titled *'Africa is a mess, but we can’t blame colonialism'*, where he argued that colonialism was not the root of Africa’s problems and suggested a return of Western influence—*'the continent may be a blot, but it is not a blot upon our conscience'*—without the burden of guilt. Johnson **publicly defended the piece** in 2002 and later referenced it in interviews (e.g., *The Telegraph*, 2016). The phrasing aligns with his provocative, contrarian style of the era.
Achtergrond
The article was published during Johnson’s tenure as *Spectator* editor (1999–2005), a period marked by his controversial, often colonial-nostalgia-tinged commentary. It reflected broader debates about Africa’s post-colonial struggles, though critics condemned it as **ignoring systemic exploitation** under colonialism. Johnson’s remarks resurfaced during his 2019 Conservative Party leadership campaign, drawing criticism for racial insensitivity.
Samenvatting verdict
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson did write in a 2002 *Spectator* editorial that colonialism in Africa should be revived without guilt, as confirmed by archived sources and his own later acknowledgment.