Is Africa the Next Cold War Theater?
by Nii OkaiJah
This article previously appeared in Africa News.
"From the outset, African countries were not adequately
consulted on a U.S. military program on the continent."
China's massive economic drive into Africa and the recent creation of the African military command by the United States may trigger a cold war on the continent. In such an event, Africa may pay a price for its independence because of its leaders' failure to establish a United States of Africa equipped with a strong military, economic, political and diplomatic apparatus. It is imperative that Africa heed its own prophet.
When Ghana became the first Black country south of the
Sahara to gain freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957, its founder, Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah, set Africa on a course toward continental liberation and
unification. Assisted later by the defunct Organization of African Unity, all
African countries attained political independence, but they were not completely
united. Although the later formation of the African Union
(AU) was seen as a step in that direction, the AU soon lost steam because of
the failure of African leaders to come out courageously in establishing the United States of
Africa at its summit in Accra, Ghana this year. This is perpetuating the
weak political and economic conditions of more than 50 countries on the
continent. Consequently, Africa continues to be placed in a weak position, at
the mercy of foreign countries with economic and military strength. Such is the
impact of the Chinese economic drive, and most recently the U.S. creation of the
Africa
Command (Africom).
"Africa continues to be placed in a weak position, at the
mercy of foreign countries with economic and military strength."
According to U.S. officials, Africom is aimed at better coordinating and
cohesive handling of the work of three different command centers, all of them
based outside Africa. The new force, with an initial 300 employees, is
temporarily based in Germany while the debate is waged whether it should be
sited on the continent or not. So far, strife-torn Liberia is the only African
country to have agreed to have the headquarters in that country.
Opposition is strong in Africa because much as Africans are economically poor,
they cherish their political independence, and see any military program without
their approval in the way of planning a conquest. A grim reminder of this was
echoed in a recent article in the Chicago Defender, a leading African
American newspaper. Writing under the headline, "Conquest and greed:
That's what made America great," Harry Alford, president of the National
Black Chamber of Commerce, stated, "The slavery, genocide and empire
building got America off to a good start - free land and free labor. You can't
lose with that... Free land and massive infusion of cheap labor later made it
easy for the United States to be ready and take advantage of the Industrial
Revolution." He continued, "We [Americans] were well prepared
from it. It made us a military and industrial might during the 20th
century," [and
beyond].
Today, Americans' greatest need is energy to maintain their power and high
lifestyles. With consumption of energy so high, dependence is on foreign
sources. Until recently, the Middle East led the world in meeting this need by
providing 20 percent of U.S. oil imports. However, according to recent reports
from the U.S. Energy Administration, African countries now provide the U.S.
with 24 percent of its oil needs. In addition, Africa provides the U.S.
with substantial amounts of strategic minerals and raw materials for American
industries.
"African countries now
provide the U.S. with 24 percent of its oil needs."
Obviously, the U.S. wants Africa safe for its oil, free of threat of terrorism
and Chinese competition. At a recent meeting with African Union leaders in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, General William Ward, the black soldier heading the US
African Force stated, "Africom will assist our African partners in
increasing their capacity to provide a stable environment here in
Africa." Ward, who many see as an Uncle Tom or a black front to
appease Africans, denied that the new force will militarize Africa by
establishing military bases or stationing troops on the continent. The question
is whether this black soldier is just taking orders or initiating policy. It is
important to note that from the outset, African countries were not adequately
consulted on a military program on the continent for obvious reasons.
Consequently, African leaders should not entertain the idea of having the
headquarters of the Africom, now based in Germany, on African soil. It will be
a clear violation of the territorial sovereignty of Africa, if the U.S. imposes
its will in doing so.
Amid the increasing Chinese economic drive into Africa, there is also concern
about China arming the government in Sudan for that country's oil while
thousands of people have died and millions displaced by the war in the Darfur
region. U.S. concern should be channeled through the United Nations by
providing adequate funds and equipment for African Union troops to deal with
the situation. Or does America have its eyes on the oil in the Sudan?
The U.S. can better help Africa maintain a stable environment by focusing on
providing more liberal economic deals to Africa. Instead of the U.S. and other
European countries matching China's soft economic terms for African countries
to boost their standard of living, America is resorting to a possible display
of military power. Another factor to consider in the African context is that
her population is split between Christians and Muslims. Do we need to inflame
the situation? Clearly, the dire problem in Africa is economic. Even the
German President acknowledged this recently while visiting Algeria. In an
address to the African Partnership Forum in Algiers, he lamented the poor
trading terms given to African countries and called for better terms. Western
countries have not adequately opened their markets for African products, and
where they have done so, African countries are always faced with the problem of
price fluctuations.
"Africans must be warned
about the new threats from the West and East."
Under these circumstances, Africans must be warned about the new threats from
the West and East just after emerging from gruesome civil wars following the
age of colonialism. They must know that their salvation is within Africa.
Indeed, the ultimate answer to the problems of the struggling African people lies
in their oneness. If African countries are effectively united, they would be
able to mobilize and coordinate their immense resources for the well being of
their people; they will also have their own strong military to defend and
protect themselves and not rely on a force imposed on the continent. It is not
too late for courageous African leaders or grassroots movements to push for the
United States of Africa. The alternative will be a new form of colonialism to
the detriment of the African people.
Nii OkaiJah is a Ghanaian freelance writer.
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