The invasion was with western backing from nations such as the USA, UK and Australia. Australia was the only nation to officially recognize the Indonesian occupation of East Timor as part of Indonesian sovereignty. The scale of the debt crisis is such that some countries end up paying far more in interest alone than the original amount borrowed . Nigeria for example, borrowed 5 billion US dollars between 1985 and 1986 and having paid back 16 billion US dollars, still owe around 28 billion US dollars. There is a pattern of inequality caused by the powerful subjugating the poor and keeping them dependent.
Outside influence is often a large factor and access to trade and resources is the usual cause.
It is often asked why the people of these countries do not stand up for themselves. In most cases when they do, they face incredible and often violent oppression from their ruling elites and from outsiders who see their national interests threatened. More evidence is emerging about US and Belgian involvement in the overthrow of the first leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1960 . The DRC has had to live with a legacy of violence during its 75 years of colonial rule which ended in 1960. Even since then, due to the vast, rich mineral resources, many nations have been involved both directly and indirectly in the conflicts that have seen millions killed.