[ad_1]
Around October 1884, the great European powers of the time in the company of the United States met in Berlin in Germany to divide the African continent. The decision was made after Europe realized Africa's vast potential for raw material production for its thriving industries and the need to avoid protracted conflict on the expanding continent on the eve of the First World War. World War 1.
As a result, the continent was shared between Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and France. Naturally, the English and the French had the lion's share, given their immense wealth at the time.
The process saw the total colonization of the entire continent, with the exception of Liberia, the state of ancient slaves and Ethiopia, who managed to get rid of the 39, Italy for a while, then to succumb.
In the 1950s, in the context of the struggle for the independence of Africans, Europe began to politically abandon the continent. However, the cold war was just beginning and the new weak African states were hit hard.
Distant war
Faction leaders who have been seen to support communism have been overthrown, imprisoned, killed or deported at a time when Africa is the victim of a distant war. The most recognized victims of this struggle are Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara.
On the other hand, leaders who have supported the United States and capitalism have been rewarded with aid, scholarships and debt financing for projects of choice.
Their leadership abilities, poor human rights record and poor economic management are of no importance. Among the members of this group were Egyptian Hosni Mubarak, Kenyan Jomo Kenyatta and, later, Daniel Moi and Yakubu Gowon during the Biafra wars in Nigeria. The African leader who optimized the gains of his country at the time is perhaps the Serb Ahmed Sekou Toure, who played against the United States and the USSR.
He denied the landing rights of the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis, but later allowed them during the Angolan conflict. Since then, Guinea has deflected the openings of the French neo-colonialist and refused to join the badociation of former colonies.
In return, Guinea did not receive any badistance from France. However, after the Cold War, the United States, through the Bretton Woods institutions, insisted on structural adjustment programs in African economies.
Finally, US leaders began to notice human rights violations, embezzlement and mismanagement. Significantly, aid to the continent has been significantly reduced. This situation was exacerbated by the 2009 economic downturn, as Western countries struggled to stay afloat, and aid to developing countries dried up.
Eastern Dragon
African leaders spoiled by opaque help were orphaned by Uncle Sam, who withdrew after winning the Cold War. As a result, emerging economic powers in the east began to woo African leaders. China was leading the pack with 30 billion shillings ($ 300 billion) of investment in Africa between 2005 and 2018. It is clear that orphaned African leaders have found a new boss in the eastern dragon and perfected the strategy of Sekou Touré.
But China does not come to Africa simply to offer political patronage – nor are they interested in voting at the United Nations. China is interested in natural resources in Africa.
With overpopulation and a growing industrial economy, they need a new resource base and Africa is the only place where they can get it. They provide unsustainable loans so that when the host country fails, they can take over essential facilities and resources as they did in Sri Lanka.
China's main interests are in Angola and Nigeria, the main oil producing countries. The help goes hand in hand with the resource capacity. In response to the predatory trends of the Eastern Dragon, the United States announced a more active strategy in Africa by the end of 2018.
They have set aside $ 6 trillion to invest strategically in Africa over the next five years. Naturally, they are opposed to the new foreign policy in Africa of dancing with the highest bidder.
They still hope to get exclusive support, as in the Cold War. The announcement by the United States of renewed interest in Africa means that it is back on the table to be auctioned.
-M. Odhiambo is an independent badyst
Related Topics
Scramble for AfricaColonizationFinancial Assistance
[ad_2]
Source link
