Africa News Digest
Harlem Congressman Rangel Challenges Rumsfeld on African Bases
Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has challenged Defense Secretary Rumsfeld over the creation of U.S. bases in Africa, without the agreement of the African Union. Rangel "has written to the Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, asking that he make public U.S. efforts to establish bases and basing rights in Africa without African Union authorization," according to an opinion column in Johannesburg's Business Day June 9, by Francis Kornegay of the Centre for Africa's International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Kornegay's column is titled, "African Lobby in U.S. Must Work With African Union." Kornegay is an expert on, and interlocutor of the U.S Africa lobby (or, more correctly, "lobbies").
Mbeki at ILO Meet: Give the Poor a Voice!
South African President Thabo Mbeki, in addressing the International Labour Conference in Geneva June 11, emphasized that there is no solution for any sector of any society, be it labor, government, or the private sector, with the level of poverty and underdevelopment that now exists. The market economy left on its own simply doesn't work, he said.
Mbeki insisted that there must be a determination, as the European Union has made in its own internal economy, "that there are certain challenges of poverty and underdevelopment that can only be addressed through a conscious process of resource transfers from the rich to the poor globally." (The EU reference concerned the fact that the EU has designated a European Structural Fund, which accounts for over a third of the EU budget, and that, for example, "and quite correctly, a developed and prosperous country, the UK, has been allocated 16.6 billion euros by the EU to address challenges that are relatively minor, compared to those confronting the developing world.")
Mbeki noted that "no call is made that these regions [EU countries] should beautify themselves for the benefit of the market, and depend on this market to supply the resources to pull them out of their relative backwardness. Bear in mind that even as it tried to prepare itself for these suitors, sub-Saharan Africa was transferring to the rich countries of the North $14.5 billion to service its debts." He noted that part of the money given the UK is for a "unique peace program" in Northern Ireland. In contrast, for developing countries, there must be peace, stability and "absence of civil strife," to use the words of the Washington Consensus, before the rich can consider giving any financial assistance. "In one case, resources are allocated to achieve peace. In another, peace must be achieved before assistance can be considered."
He noted that the only purpose of IMF Structural Adjustment Programs "imposed on countries of the South" was to "restore their capacity for debt repayment, and caused further deterioration in the living conditions of the most fragile classes of the population. The financial transfers from South to North in service of the debt set a mortgage on all chances of development, representing as they do four times the OECD budget for public aid to development."
Mbeki reiterated that with globalization, "the majority of poor countries have become increasingly marginalized, sinking more and more into poverty." "There are certain challenges of poverty and underdevelopment that can only be addressed through a conscious process of resource transfers from the rich to the poor, globally. The decision must therefore be taken that those elected by the people to represent them and to pursue the public good, above sectional interests, have an obligation to ensure that such resource transfers take place.
"The poor of the world watch and wait to see what decisions we will take and what programs we will implement. These are the billions cast out into outer darkness, among whom there is much weeping and gnashing of teeth.... Perhaps they do not know this, but all of us here do, that the resources exist within the world economy and society to achieve the objective of the eradication of poverty, globally. The question we must all answer is why we are not using these resources to achieve this goal that is of central importance to the poor and unemployed but also to those of us present here, who represent the tripartite constituency of the ILO."
Mbeki cited John Maynard Keynes' remarks at the closing session of the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, including: "We have shown that a concourse of 44 nations are actually able to work together.... There is hope for the world." Mbeki commented that 60 years later, we still have the possibility to make the statement, "there is hope for the world." But, unlike Keynes's view, the poor must also have a voice. He concluded that "When they do speak in the end, on all continents, including where we are meeting, they will proclaimwe are the hope of the world, free at last of the curse of the money merchant!"
President Bush To Visit Africa?
Although there is no formal announcement yet, the White House officials say President George Bush is to visit Senegal, Nigeria, and South Africa July 7-15. Bush was to have visited Africa in early 2003, but the visit was postponed in the buildup to the Iraq war.
Some officials hope to add a stop in East Africa, where Bush could take part in a signing ceremony of a possible Sudan peace agreement. If Bush commits to the full eight days, he may address the Leon H. Sullivan Summit of African and African-American leaders being held this year in Abuja, July 14-19. The summit is chaired by Andrew Young, who under Jimmy Carter was U.S. Ambassador to the UN.
According to the White House, President Bush has met 25 African heads of state so far, "more than any previous President."
Museveni Embraces More Death by Free Trade
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, after meeting President Bush June 10 in Washington, told a reception that the marketplace "and its discipline" can "set us free." He was speaking to a meeting organized to launch the AGOA III Action Committee that will lobby for the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond 2008, according to allAfrica's Charles Cobb. The event was organized by the Whitaker Group, led by Susan Whitaker, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, who says she identifies with Museveni's vision for Uganda and Africa.
The AGOA, originally signed into law by President Clinton in 2000, is supposed to shift U.S.-Africa relations from aid, to trade and investment, permitting AGOA-qualified governments to export to the U.S. without quotas or duties. But the strings attached are enough to hang any country that goes along: African governments are required to make severe cuts in government spending; sell off government enterprises; give foreign investors additional rights; make deep cuts in tariffs; accept U.S. monopoly and patent laws; adhere to all IMF, World Bank, and WTO regulations; and avoid any activities that may "undermine" U.S. national security.
Museveni, who has been exposed by EIR for his role in Anglo-American genocidal operations in Africa, was given royal treatment in the United States. He met with Treasury Secretary John Snow and was the guest of honor at a private dinner hosted by World Bank president James Wolfensohn. He was scheduled to be honored June 11 at a luncheon organized by the UN Development Program "for his leadership in fighting HIV/AIDS." He was also scheduled to speak before the Council on Foreign Relations on "Forging U.S.-Africa Partnerships Against Terror."
International Community Ignores Ethiopia Starvation
Some 12.5 million Ethiopians face starvationdespite an early warning to the international community on the consequences of Ethiopia's drought. According to World Food Program executive director James Morris: "Once again, because governments have failed to provide the aid needed, WFP is forced into an exercise in triage." According to Wagdi Othman, WFP's spokesman in Ethiopia: "We have been criticized in the past for not giving the true picture, for not ringing the alarm bells early enough so that donors can respond. This time the humanitarian agencies and the Ethiopian government did sound the alarm bells in time, starting from July 2002." In most of the affected parts of the country, farmers are facing a lack of both food and water. Some farmers saw a total failure of their harvests last year. "Families say they cannot send their children to school, because they are hungry and cannot cope with the walk to school, let alone studying."
Namibia Encouraged To Produced Cheap AIDS Drugs
The Namibian government has teamed up with a local company to produce cheap AIDS drugs, Health Minister Dr. Libertina Amathila announced June 9. Amathila made the announcement during a discussion between ministers and visiting UN Special Envoy on AIDS Stephen Lewis. Amathila said the Cabinet gave approval for an Ondangwa-based company to produce generic drugs (apparently anti-retrovirals) that will be affordable to Namibians. She said the government will set money aside to invest in the production of the drugs. It is believed that the unnamed company, owned by a Namibian, has the backing of the Cuban government, according to The Namibian.
Apparently, Stephen Lewis was encouraging such an endeavor. He is quoted: "You can issue licences to private companies also. Given your stage of advanced responsibilities, you will have a wider market for your products." Lewis also urged Namibia to "test the waters" at the Global Fund for HIV-AIDS, TB and Malaria, by applying for assistance to set up the manufacturing plant.
Life Expectancy Plunging in South Africa Without Anti-AIDS Measures
The lift expectancy of men in South Africa is expected to drop to 43 years in 2005, and 38 years in 2010, from 49 years in 2001, unless there is aggressive HIV/AIDS-related and nutrition intervention. For women, life expectancy was 52 years in 2001, but is likely to also drop to 43 in 2005 and 37 in 2010. South African Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana released a 73-page document reporting on what is happening to the workforce.
Mugabe Charges Tsvangirai With Attempting To Overthrow Zimbabwe Government
The leader of the British-run opposition party in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested on June 6 and charged with one count of treason for attempting to overthrow the government. He remains in custody. The arrest came at the end of a week of work stoppages and demonstrations by Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Tsvangirai has repeatedly said, over recent months, that MDC actions were intended to bring down the government of President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai is currently in the process of being tried on another chargeof plotting the assassination of Mugabe. But the evidence is clearly insufficient for a conviction. That trial resulted from a sting operation against Tsvangirai organized by "former" Mossad agent Ari Ben Menashe. (EIR notes the possibility that Ben Menashe's motive in the sting was to embarrass Mugabe and make Tsvangirai a persecuted hero.)
Meanwhile, despite efforts by the British Foreign Office and U.S. State Department, support for Mugabe on the part of other African governments continues. Zambia is now ready to sell maize to Zimbabwe, and Tamoil, the Libyan fuel company, and Zimbabwe's national oil company, Noczim, have agreed to resume Zimbabwe's oil purchases from Libya.
Mauritania Attempted Coup Is New Flashpoint
Mauritania's ties with the U.S. and Israel were the motive behind a failed coup attempt of June 8-9, not the repressive measures against Islamist groups, says Mauritanian opposition leader Abdullah Bin Ali, in an ArabicNews report June 11. He lives in exile in Morocco.
Responding to the U.S. announcement that it had sent forces to Mauritania to protect its embassy, Bin Ali said that he believed "the USA had [actually] provided logistical support to the Mauritanian forces via transporting Mauritanian soldiers from military bases in the northern part of the country to Nouakchott suburbs or inside it.
"Bin Ali said that the Mauritanian President had established firm alliance relations with Washington since 1999 as he had replaced the French military advisers who were in Mauritania since its independence in 1960 by American military advisers and trainers." Other reports say ties with the U.S. have become stronger since 9/11.
"Bin Ali stressed that the Mauritania alliance with the U.S. and Israel was one of the main motives for this coup ... [and] denied what was stated in the Western mass media that this coup was carried out by Islamist groups as a reaction to the acts of arrest [of their members]."
Bin Ali's quoted statements are consistent with Reuters' report from Nouakchott June 10, according to which Salah Ould Hnana, the suspected coup leader, "had been fired from the army after stirring opposition to the Israeli ties." Mauritania is one of only three Arab states with formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
The existence of a crackdown on Islamists, however, is not in doubt. Sheikh Bekaye of Associated Press wrote June 9, "Mauritania launched its crackdown initially to stem Islamic shows of support for Iraq. Last month, dozens of Islamic leaders were arrested for allegedly using mosques to recruit fighters." He adds that insurgents freed at least 32 Islamic activists from a detention center.
The government had imprisoned nine members of the banned Nouhoud Party May 29. The weekly newspaper Erraya was banned on June 5 for "subversion and intolerance" and an arrest warrant was issued for its editor, who went into hiding. In addition, 30 members of the Movement of Democratic Forces and a Muslim preacher were charged with treason for "using places of worship for subversive propaganda and having connection with foreign networks."
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