Date: Tue, 6 May 2014 23:49:56 +0200
John Kerry says Africa has “Natural Resources”, Therefore the US is a
“Natural Partner”
By <http://www.globalresearch.ca/author/timothy-alexander-guzman> Timothy
Alexander Guzman
Global Research, May 06, 2014
AFRICOMREGIONAL
US Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the US is interested in
Africa’s natural resources. Kerry said that the US and the continent of
Africa are “Natural Partners” because of its abundant resources and their
“know-how for economic development”.
The Associated Press reported what Kerry said to members of the Addis Ababa
diplomatic corps and the Young Africa leader network following his visit to
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. He said:
Africa has the natural resources, capacity and the know-how for economic
development, Kerry said, adding that the U.S. is the continent’s “natural
partner.” He said that over the next three years, 37 of the 54 African
nations will hold national elections with millions of voters going to the
polls. And he called on Africans to combat the political corruption that the
African Union says has cost the people of Africa tens of billions of dollars
The report said that
“U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted crises in Nigeria, South
Sudan, Somalia and the Central African Republic and urged Africans to demand
stability and financial development.”
Well obviously it does not include a handful of dictatorships Washington has
supported over the years including Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of
Equatorial Guinea in West Africa. He is also known as “the country’s God”
according to a report conducted by BBC in 2003. The state-controlled radio
program had announced to the public that “He can decide to kill without
anyone calling him to account and without going to hell because it is God
himself, with whom he is in permanent contact, and who gives him this
strength,” a presidential aide announced on the show” according to the
report. Obiang is a staunch US ally and Africa’s longest ruling dictator
since 1979 after he executed his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema. Obiang was
actually trained in Spain under the fascist leadership of Francisco Franco.
Equatorial Guinea’s oil exports and corruption has made the Obiang family
one of the wealthiest families on the African continent. In 2008, the US
Department of State’s own human rights report stated the following
concerning Equatorial Guinea:
limited ability of citizens to change their government; increased reports of
unlawful killings by security forces; government-sanctioned kidnappings;
systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life
threatening conditions in prisons and detention facilities; impunity;
arbitrary arrest, detention, and incommunicado detention; harassment and
deportation of foreign residents with limited due process; judicial
corruption and lack of due process; restrictions on the right to privacy;
restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press; restrictions on the
rights of assembly, association, and movement; government corruption;
violence and discrimination against women; suspected trafficking in persons;
discrimination against ethnic minorities; and restrictions on labor rights
Equatorial Guinea is an example. It has natural resources and a government
that is friendly to Washington and its corporate interests. The speech made
by Kerry mentioned countries that lacked security and democratic values for
its people as he said that the US was “ready to help increase its ties with
Africa, but nations across the continent need to take stronger steps to
ensure security and democracy for its people”. He did not mention Equatorial
Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda or Ethiopia. All are whom supported by Washington.
“And he called on Africans to combat the political corruption that the
African Union says has cost the people of Africa tens of billions of
dollars” According to the AP report. Kerry also said
“That money could build new schools and hospitals, new roads and bridges,
new pipes and power lines. That’s why it’s a responsibility for citizens in
Africa and in all nations to demand that public money is providing services
for all, not lining the pockets of a few”
Just like President Teodoro Obiang. It is no secret that Africa has an
enormous amount of resources including oil, copper, gold and silver. The
United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) is expanding its presence in Africa
to counter not only China, but Brazil, India and Russia. According to a
document published by AFRICOM during a Senate Armed Services Committee
hearing with General David M. Rodriquez on March 6th 2014, confirmed
Washington’s strategy concerning Africa:
Africa is increasingly important for our European allies, who are directly
affected by the rising economic and political influence of some African
countries, as well as the symptoms of instability emanating from other
countries. Many European Allies view Africa as the source of their greatest
external security threats, including terrorism, illegal immigration, human
smuggling and trafficking, and drugs and arms trafficking. Our support to
allies in addressing mutual security challenges in Africa may influence
their willingness and ability to help shoulder the burden in future
conflicts in other areas in the world. The African continents energy and
strategic mineral reserves are also of growing significance to China, India,
and other countries in the broader Indian Ocean basin. Africa’s increasing
importance to allies and emerging powers, including China, India and Brazil,
provides opportunities to reinforce U.S. security objectives in other
regions through our engagement on the continent. While most African
countries prefer to partner with the United States across all sectors, many
will partner with any country that can increase their security and
prosperity. We should be deliberate in determining where we leave gaps
others may fill
Africa is Washington’s next colonial project. Expanding AFRICOM and more
drone bases will be the norm. Will Africa’s leadership allow Washington and
it European partners (who colonized Africa for centuries) to dominate their
continent? That is a hard question to answer, especially when leaders such
as Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang who became wealthy at the expense of his
people.
<http://silentcrownews.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Africas-Natu
ral-Resources1.jpg>
http://silentcrownews.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Africas-Natur
al-Resources1-300x272.jpg
(image/jpeg attachment: image001.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image002.jpg)