America's new method of occupation

By Madibeng Kgwete: posted on 12 February 2007

The United States government has reportedly approved the establishment of a new single military command for Africa, to be known as Africa Command.

Announcing the new command, US President George W. Bush is said to have remarked that: “Africa Command will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy and economic growth in Africa.”

But, given the embarrassing defeats that the US is suffering in Iraq, it is not convincing that the real reason behind the creation of Africa Command is to ensure “development, health, education, democracy and economic growth in Africa”, as Bush is reported to have said.

Deploying a more coordinated military force in Africa -- the continent which some commentators have described as the poorest on earth -- will help the US to easily interfere in the internal affairs of our continent, deploy puppet states and remote control the continent with ease.

Those African leaders who are not popular in Washington should better watch out, for Africa Command is here for them. Once the Command is fully deployed on the African continent, the sovereignty of our nations will most likely be hanging in the balance.

To think, like Bush, that the US military can bring “democracy and economic growth in Africa” through the deployment of more troops on our continent is highly pathetic. New methods of occupation are being devised, and, quite clearly, Africa is still the continent for the taking.

Africa Command is here to intimidate our leaders, undermine our continental structures such as the African Union Security Council and interfere in the internal affairs of our continent.