America’s establishment of the so-called African Command should be seen for what it is. This is America’s self-serving armada of protection for America and her allies. As Africa have steadily and increasingly become more important, playing the role for Westerners, as repository of energy resources which powers the engine-rooms of Western economies.
In addition America and her Western allies are in trepidations and stampede, to stem China’s forays into Africa with plethora of real investments in solid infrastructures in many African nations. The formation of this command was made official by former president of the United States, George W. Bush on February 6, 2007. It has been controversial since; particularly, among Africans. There is as well a lively debate by Americans in the Department of Defense or DOD, the War College, US State Department, various Policy Foundations by policy wonks, aside from the Africans’.
A major component and a key element in these debates is the fear of China. China is buoyed be her recent economic progress. China has, for more than a decade, attained major economic expansion of more than nine percent annually. China has become exceedingly confident on the world stage. America and her Western allies are therefore deeply troubled by this state of affairs or development. China is seen by Western governments as a nuisance, an irritant and a competitor behemoth worth her weight in gold. The sheer size of China, her industrial and technological ascendancy, tripled with her ability to produce with low overhead costs, empowers China, like no other nation. China is as well a major financier of America’s public debt, in the trillions. Sino-phobia in Western countries can also be blamed for America’s sudden desire to establish military presence in Africa.
In my view therefore, America’s African Command was in conceptual terms and actual implementation, was not intended to serve Africa’s best interests. It is just some happenstances that Africa has grown in geopolitical and geo-economic importance to America and her allies. Africa has been there all along.
Africa suddenly has the attentions of Western governments? Africa is suddenly a priority? I very much doubt it! As America and her allies are ensnared in the volatile Persian Gulf-Middle East, there is suddenly these self-serving attention being paid to the long neglected, ridiculed and forlorn Africa? Given Africa’s experience in the hands of Western governments, from slave trade to colonialism to the hemispheric Cold War hegemonic struggles for chunks of the African continent, it should be no surprise to the United States and other Western governments, that Africans view them with enlightened and sanguine suspicions. These suspicions are informed by Africa’s extremely checkered history and the roles of Westerners in it.
There are, in addition to African historical experiences with Westerners, the experiences of other regions and nations outside of Africa. There are such places such the Honduras, Grenada, Panama, Haiti, Dominican Republic to mention a few, where American military presence have not served best interests of the local populations. The collective experience of these countries, in which American military presence have been parceled and touted as being of some sorts of mutual benefit for America and the host country, it has turned out, in many cases, America interests were all she was interested in. There were for instance, reports of how American military, acting supposedly in partnership or cooperation with Nigerian military, literally took over Nigerian Defense Headquarters. I know for a fact, that the US military would not brook such behaviors by foreign military personnel at Pentagon, the US Department of Defense or military complex.
It is probably important as a mention, that the United States already operates at least three other commands, namely, the European Command (EUCOM), Central Command, (CENTCOM) and Pacific Command (PACOM), therefore, African Command or (AFRICOM) will be the fourth leg of US military global spread.
America’s African Command, in the circumstances, cannot be seen by Africans as instrument for African Security. America’s African Command is instead seen, as machinery for Western governments to pursue their vaunted economic, political and hegemonic hemispheric influence, at the expense of Africans, as well as a backdoor through which Westerner can outmaneuver rivals such as China and perhaps, Russia in addition. In my observation, the only interests which Westerners pursues, have ever pursued in Africa, are Western interests regardless of their protestations to the contrary; regardless of new and improved fanciful packaging.
Just think about it. Africa has laid as greenest field and fallow before the very eyes of Westerners for hundreds of years. Westerners have exploited Africa for Western benefit enough already. Africans can do without Western nations’ afterthoughts. AFRICOM and the current debate about China are two sides of the same coin. There is a renewed scramble for Africa it is motivated mostly by the search for hydrocarbon and beyond that, an opportunity for those in the scramble to expand their global market share, in this era of globalization. Africa is still their pawn, sadly! They have never been committed or dedicated to our cause or best interests.
This is the crux of the matter for Africans who have become deeply and extremely suspicious motives by Westerners who are pretending, permanently, to be on right side of all that is good for Africa, meanwhile, all through history, there have been no scintilla of truth in claims by Western governments which have pretending to be helping or assisting Africa in some sorts of altruistic, disinterested, selfless or gratuitous way. History is my witness and it is verifiably the case that Western contacts with Africa have had most negative consequences. It began with slave trade, then colonialism, neocolonialism, cold war and through all these, Westerners stripped and exploited Africa for Africa’s human, mineral and sundry resources. As a consequence, discerning Africans have gone beyond merely wary of Westerners, Africans who are alert and have become extremely suspicious of Westerners. Again, we should be mindful, when an umbrella seller doubles as someone who predicts daily rain falls. Africans have become more circumspect in evaluating advice offered by Westerners, in matters of continental, regional security or matters of trade and investments on the continent.
The attitudes of Westerners to Africans have been based mostly, on some sorts of ad hoc policy thrusts. It is marked by the absence of a well thought out and well reasoned substantive and significant policy position for Africa. Be it economic, political or military-strategic. Africa has always been seen as of no strategic or national security relevance or significance to Westerners. I cannot recount how many Western policy papers which explicitly and implicitly state such positions abundantly. But suddenly, exigent circumstances, which propelled solely by Western interests, is now pushing Western government to a waking moment of Africa’s importance? And Westerners expect Africans to be jumping for joy and dance in the streets, in excitements? Africans should be overjoyed and happily receive America’s African Command? If past is prologue, I will say, think again!
For starters, former president of the United States George W. Bush’s administration underestimated what would be Africans’ reaction to the presence of America AFRICOM; Non-Africans are too frequently presumptuous about Africans. Africans are taken for granted quite too often. This all has smudges of condescension and it is an attitude which smacks of Western paternalistic talk-downs in dealings with Africans. This is why unpleasant failure results are consequences sometimes. Herein lay the difference between the West and resurgent China in Africa. China invited African countries to Beijing, China. And together, Africans and
the Chinese, created the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (CACF) This Africa-China body have met in China and in parts of Africa since its creation. And this is the sorts of partnership, the sort of friends and robust engagement which have been absence between the West and Africa. Africa, for far too long, remained the inconvenient part of the world in the eyes of the Western governments. Westerners have only been in exploitation mode and Africa as the butt of their dinner jokes, bluntly put. China on the other hand is, practical, engaged and straightforward. When was the last time the United States invited African leaders together to a joint summit or conference on economic, strategic or military cooperation? When was the last time (ever) did the United states or Western nations practice active engagements and rapprochement with African leaders the way China have demonstrated her leadership in that direction? China has excelled in action and not rhetoric and false promises!
China has over the years sent almost 20,000 medical doctors into many nations on the African continent. Beyond that, China has given loans, guaranteed loans for infrastructure development for African nations. China has been engaged, as well, in the direct creation of public infrastructures in some African nations. Railways, refineries and sundry public works, are abundant evidences which are already on the grounds in different parts of Africa and these, it must be said, tells you where China stands. Africans are tired of profound platitudinous proclamations by Western governments. China in a short span of time has proven their worthiness to Africans, through their actions. Westerners are alarmed, understandably so, because, it is becoming obvious to the Africans, tremendous difference between hundreds of years of words by Western governments, compared with the recent Chinese presence. China does not seek to dictate leadership choice to Africans.
China is not dictating to Africans a mode of government or governance as in presidential or parliamentary systems. China is not interested in interfering or meddling in the internal affairs Africans. That is how it should be! Africans are now children of the West! China goods are all over the United States. Chinese products are known Westerners and Africans alike, to be cheap and to fulfill intended utility. China is not known to hold Chinese products over and above products made in Africa. Western nations have done just that for decades, for instance, Schnapps was held up in Nigeria as superior to local brew, which is now almost extinct. And this is the practice of the West across the board. And yet, some people wonder why African farmers and manufacturers can compete against Western multinationals? For that, I recommend, “Life and Debt of Jamaica” the negative impact upon developing nations’ productive capacities occasioned by dumping by Western nations.
And furthermore, on matters of impositions, China, quite unlike the West which imposed English, French or Portuguese etc, so far, China is not known to be force-feeding Africans any Cantonese and or Mandarin! Western contact with Africa began by imposing Christianity as the “civilized” non-primitive and superior religion, China unlike the West which exulted Christian faith over every, and any, of Africa’s holies, China has not preached any religions to Africans.
China has given loans to African nations. China has guaranteed loans to African nations for public projects and sundry public infrastructures. Western nations on the other, have always led African nations to the World Bank and or the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through which Western nations put punishing strictures upon developing nations in Africa and Latin America etc. These strictures, which are well coordinated, act to stifle development in Africa and elsewhere. You the reader must have heard of something called the Structural Adjustment Program or SAP? It ruined many nations in Africa and Latin America, it ruined millions of lives!
China has given loans, guaranteed loans to some African nations. China has also speedily executed some key projects in some African nations they go busily like acts and voila! End results or outcomes are seen by the Africans. China has in loan grants and loan guarantees, have been acting for some African nations, the way the United States acted on behalf of Israel when the US single-handed, made a $10 billion loan guarantee for Israel in one single year! And this excludes the $5billion yearly financial aid to Israel, with no strings attached, with no meddling and interference with Israel domestic and foreign policies! The amount of US foreign aid to all of the 53 countries in Africa during the last ten years is less than $10 billion, this despite the presence of over 900 million people in Africa and this, despite the recognition that the need in Africa is greater than in Israel with her 5 million in population. Africans are tired of ostentatious pledges and promises which are never fulfilled and never redeemed! China is a suitable alternative and a welcome change.
On matters of repressive and undemocratic governments in Africa; Western nations are friends to Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, with his notoriously repressive government, he is a man who has been president for about thirty years. Most Western nations had dealings with Mobutu Sese Sekor, a tyrant and dictator, who was as corrupt as corruption itself. Western nations have historically been strange-bedfellows with the world’s worst dictators, tyrannical brutal leaders. The West have perennially been in marriages of convenience with political leaders of other nations, particularly, leaders who do not pursue the interests of local electorates, but rather, selfish personal interests of select individuals and the West winks and nods, so longs as Western interests are amply protected. The West practices permanent Expediency, with an uppercase E! And frequently, it is counterproductive and chickens come home to roost. Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran etc, are historical example. Expediency can never be good substitute for thorough policy which contemplates and anticipates long term outcomes and consequences.
Western nations seem to have no issues with governments in Arabia and Persia, that is, regarding the abject absence of Democracy and Human Rights, Women Rights, in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates etc about and yet, the West lecture us about how China has been uninterested in Africans’ progress through forms of government? And that China deals with repressive African governments? And how China is willing to deal with some corrupt officials etc? Swiss Banks are notorious for being safe havens for the prodigiously corrupt and criminal looters, who pillage and plunder. And not Banks in Beijing or Shanghai! Western nations serve as harbors for fleeing thieves, and their families. Western nations serves as their refugee, and hospitals and choice place to acquire sumptuous opulence, mansions, investments and squander resources stolen from Africa. Show me a mansion in China which belongs to an African rogue. China actually executes corrupt officials by firing squad!
It should be obvious to even the undiscerning, that Western nations excel in hypocrisy and double standards. The only thing of importance to hypocrites, are usually, their self-serving sanctimonious sermons, which serves their self-interests. Discerning Africans already know those who are friends and partners to Africa. Africans do not need Western nations’ preachment of the West is holier than thou, in comparison to China. And someday, Africans and peoples of African descent will rise upon seeing the difference.
1 comment
Hope every single African reads this article