Africa News Digest
Sudan: State Dept. and Wall Street Journal Differ Only Tactically
The Wall Street Journal, in its lead editorial July 2, argues that the Sudan crisis shows the need for a U.S. imperial policy in a "Hobbesian" world, and calls for "regime change" in Sudan, rather than Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent diplomatic visit. "The lesson of Sudan," it says, "is that the world is a Hobbesian place outside the U.S. sphere of influence. It is fashionable these days to express distaste for American 'unilateralism' and 'hegemony.' The unfolding catastrophe in Darfur offers a chilling view of what the alternative really looks like."
EIR notes that the State Department's diplomacy is vectored toward the breakup of Sudan, and differs from the Wall Street Journal editorial only tactically.
South Africa, China 'Elevate Partnership to a New High'
South Africa and China signed seven agreements after a binational commission meeting in Pretoria, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said June 29 at a joint press conference in South Africa's capital.
In responding to reporters' suggestions that China should replace the West as Africa's main benefactor, Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong replied that China would do what it could to support and assist African countries. "But I don't think China could fill this gap. It's up to those who dug the gap to fill it," he said referring to the plunder of Africa's resources by colonial powers.
The Chinese VP was in South Africa June 26-29. In meetings with President Thabo Mbeki, "They agreed to work together to elevate their strategic partnership to a new high. Mbeki expressed appreciation for China's increasing involvement in Africa's own initiatives to promote peace and regional integration in the African continent," according to their joint communiqué.
China welcomed the Southern African Customs Union decision to commence free-trade negotiations with China. South Africa is known to be seeking an asymmetrical agreement to protect its economy from a flood of low-priced Chinese goods.
China confirmed the establishment of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of Stellenbosch (Western Cape Province) at an early date.
Ian Watson, chief executive of Transvaal Ferro-Chrome Ltd. (now International Ferro Metals), said Chinese companies had purchased 25% equity in International Ferro Metals. He said that Chinaa huge market for metals produced in South Africawas starting to invest considerable sums in the local market.
The government-owned South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation (Sasol) has also embarked on a feasibility study for two US$3 billion projects in China with a consortium of six Chinese companies. The projects involve extracting oil from coal, using Sasol technology. "China has plenty of coal but imports 100 million tons of crude oil a year and is looking at South African investment and expertise to reduce this amount," said China's ambassador to South Africa, Liu Gui Jin, had said earlier.
Nigeria's Creditors Demand Labor Be Crushed
Nigeria's Senate President Adolphus Wabara said June 24 that if "reforming labor" is one of the ways the country could obtain some debt cancellation from its creditors, Nigerians should embrace the move, according to the Daily Champion (Lagos) June 25. Wabara was referring to a bill sent to the National Assembly by President Olusegun Obasanjo that eliminates many of the powers of the Nigeria Labor Congress under the pretense of "decentralizing" the labor movement. "We will leave the National Assembly to decide. We are talking of debt cancellation and this goes with a lot of reforms. If labor reforms is one of the areas that must be sacrificed such that we can enjoy some debt cancellation, then I think Nigerians should be able to sacrifice that."
Asked why Nigeria's oil refineries have yet to commence operations, despite the huge amount of money the government claims to have expended on them since 1999, Wabara said the solution to the problems of the nation's oil sector is privatization.
Danger of Renewed War Between Ethiopia and Eritrea
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Eritrea July 3 amid fears that war between Eritrea and Ethiopia could resume in the short term, according to the Financial Times and Israeli intelligence sources July 3. The mandate and financing of the $200-million, 4,500-man peacekeeping force that has kept peace between the two countries, following the end of their border war (which began in 1998), is coming up for review. But there has been no progress in implementing the UN-brokered agreement ending the border war, one of the bloodiest ever. The two sides were to demarcate the border, but there have not even been talks between the two countries. Furthermore, Ethiopia continues to refuse to accept the status of the city of Badme, which it occupies and was supposed to hand over to Eritrea.
It is reported that both sides have been buying military equipment. Ethiopia has an army of 150,000 men, and Eritrea has an army of 320,000, despite the fact that its population numbers only 3.5 million.
Israeli intelligence sources point to the growing war danger in the entire region. They point out that on June 21, Eritrea announced it was opening an embassy in Israel, which had been one of the first countries to recognize Eritrea after it achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Israel was also one of its arms suppliers, and reportedly maintains bases there for Mossad operations in the region. A new Eritrea-Ethiopia war would obviously affect both Sudan and Egypt, since Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile, which accounts for 85% of Egypt's water supply. Ethiopia also lies at the mouth of the Red Sea, which is of strategic importance for Egypt.
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