Biden Opens Africa Summit With Sanctioning African Leaders
The Biden administration is holding a summit with some 40 leaders of African countries. The New York Times headline of its reporting on the summit is revealing:
Biden Is Bringing Africa’s Leaders to Washington, Hoping to Impress
"Bringing Africa's Leaders to Washington"? Why not "invited African leaders to Washington"? Isn't this reminiscent to the millions of Africans who had been "brought to America" in past centuries?
The U.S. is late in fostering better relations with Africa:
NAIROBI, Kenya — In Russia, Africa’s leaders were feted at a seaside resort where military aircraft for sale were parked outside the summit hall. In China, they dined with President Xi Jinping, some of them one-on-one, and received promises of investments worth $60 billion. In Turkey, they won support for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.Now they are headed to Washington for a major summit hosted by President Biden — the latest diplomatic drive by a major foreign power seeking to strengthen its ties to Africa, a continent whose geopolitical clout has grown greatly in the past decade.
There is little hope that the U.S. will do better than other nations:
As the planes of over 40 African heads of state descend on Washington, a question looms: What can Mr. Biden offer that they want?“The U.S. has traditionally seen Africa as a problem to be solved,” said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at the International Crisis Group. “But its competitors see Africa as a place of opportunity, which is why they are pulling ahead. It’s unclear if this conference is going to change that.”
What the leaders from Africa demand is first of all respect:
Africa’s top diplomat says that, first of all, they want to be heard.“When we talk, we’re often not listened to, or in any case, not with enough interest,” President Macky Sall of Senegal, who is president of the African Union, said in an interview in Dakar last Thursday. “This is what we want to change. And let no one tell us no, don’t work with so-and-so, just work with us. We want to work and trade with everyone.”
There is no serious attempt to really get into better relations with African countries:
There will be initiatives to tap the African diaspora for new ideas in higher education, creative industries and the environment and for collaborations with NASA on space programs. A guide for summit delegates, obtained by The New York Times, predicts that Africa’s “space economy” will grow 30 percent by 2024 — an opportunity for the U.S. to help with technologies to solve problems related to climate change, agriculture, security and illegal fishing and mining.But there is little sign that Mr. Biden intends to launch a signature policy initiative like previous American administrations.
In short: it is a sales show and at least partly aimed at one of Biden's constituent groups - 'diaspora Africans'.
There is not much to expect from the meeting but empty words and not so empty threats. Yesterday, the day before the first summit meeting is supposed to take place, the Biden administration set the tone by ... sanctioning African leaders:
The Biden administration on Monday slapped corruption sanctions on the son of Zimbabwe’s president as the U.S. prepares to host a major summit of African leaders in Washington.The Treasury Department announced it was hitting four Zimbabwean people and two companies with penalties for their roles in undermining democracy and facilitating high-level graft. Those sanctioned include Emmerson Mnangagwa, Jr., the son of the previously sanctioned Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
...
“We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit,” Treasury said in a statement.“The goal of sanctions is behavior change,” it said. “Today’s actions demonstrate our support for a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
I fail to find a participants list for the summit at the State Department's Africa Summit page. But I am pretty sure that Zimbabwe as well as ten plus other member states of the African Union will not be present. It would be interesting to learn who those are.
Sanctions are typically reviewed by the National Security Council before they are enacted by the Treasury. That the White House let these pass at this time means that the move is intentional.
Those who are coming will notice this well timed action against the leadership of one of their fellow countries. It is likely supposed to intimidate them: "Watch what could happen to You!"
But times have changed. I doubt that they will fall for such a cheap trick.
Posted by b on December 13, 2022 at 12:37 UTC | Permalink
Thing is, Africa already has a ruling elite that somewhat identify with their former colonial masters. So maybe west still has lots of cards to play.
Posted by: A.z | Dec 13 2022 12:54 utc | 2
“We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit,” Treasury said in a statement.
Treasury has a sense of humor.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 13 2022 13:02 utc | 3
The US is self-destructive. Sanctions are rightly seen as weapons. African countries have been attacked so many times now they realize the danger of being bullied -- and what happens when they are acquiescent. But now they have alternatives -- Russia and China - who offer carrots not a whip. For the US, Africa was first and foremost a source of slaves. And the Empire still regards Africans as slaves -- as it does all of the Global South.
The US is ethnically diverse. But not multicultural. A melting pot indeed. And the product of this unipolarity is dross, for in melting down so many different elements, the country destroys them.
Russia and China are also ethnically -- but multicultural. They practice multipolarity in their own countries
The conflict in Ukraine was about this. Russia supported the right of Eastern Ukraine to be itself. Multiculturalism . The US supported the fascists in Western Ukraine. Unipolarity.
The destruction of the UAF in Bakhmut now may be the turning point. I think Africans will cheer.
https://julianmacfarlane.substack.com/p/not-just-bakhmut-collapsing
Posted by: julianmacfarlane | Dec 13 2022 13:04 utc | 4
When the West visits Africa, they talk about China.
If the West really thinks China helping Africa to gain influence is a bad thing, the best thing it can do is help Africa even more.In this episode, President of the Socialist Party of Zambia, Fred M'membe, and the convener of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, Kyeretwie Opoku share with us an African perspective on "Africa's China problem".
Posted by: too scents | Dec 13 2022 13:08 utc | 5
More illegal Sanctions ?
Result; Increased pace of de-dollarization
Posted by: Exile | Dec 13 2022 13:17 utc | 6
I'm hoping the African Union will issue a Joint Statement at the end of this insultingly racist gabfest, pointing out that meetings with AmeriKKKans, whose ears stop working when their mouths are moving, and never shut up, are a waste of time.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Dec 13 2022 13:23 utc | 7
Oh well, there is a much better class of Humanity in the 'Jungle' as opposed to the 'Walled Garden'.
No loss.
Late stage Empire collapse ... in real-time.
" 'Bringing Africa's Leaders to Washington'? Why not 'invited African leaders to Washington'? Isn't this reminiscent to the millions of Africans who had been 'brought to America' in past centuries?"
Yes. Worse, racism is so societally corrosive it becomes the possible devaluation and oppression of any and all human beings. Once starting down that less-than-human road you will end up with a lasting social hell for all but the wanton oppressors. America at this point has arrived there.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Dec 13 2022 13:28 utc | 9
The attitude of EU just as racist as that in Washington. A few days ago, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this about Africans who support Putin:
these people do not know where Donbas is or maybe they do not even know who Putin is.
Previously Borrell had said:
Most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden.
Posted by: Brendan | Dec 13 2022 13:36 utc | 10
Did Zimbabwe not pay their 10 percent to the big guy?
Posted by: Goldhoarder | Dec 13 2022 13:39 utc | 11
It's not the anti-corruption activities of the US.
It's the cultural colonisation.
How many Countries are being sanctioned in Africa because - though this is not explicitly said - of their sodomy laws, or support for marriage and Christian values, or social conservatism?
It's the same as for Hungary: when you don't do what I want, I discover a "corruption" problem.
Posted by: Alexander P | Dec 13 2022 14:06 utc | 12
Anyone else appreciate the enormous hypocrisy it takes for Joe Biden to sanction a president's son for corruption?
Posted by: Jim Phillips | Dec 13 2022 14:11 utc | 13
From your quoted ap news story:
“We urge the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards creating a peaceful, prosperous, and politically vibrant Zimbabwe, and to address the root causes of many of Zimbabwe’s ills: corrupt elites and their abuse of the country’s institutions for their personal benefit,” Treasury said in a statement.
“The goal of sanctions is behavior change,” it said. “Today’s actions demonstrate our support for a transparent and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Is this not the exact problem that people in the West face? As always, projection.
Posted by: dust | Dec 13 2022 14:11 utc | 14
Isn't it odd that the most corrupt government in the world, in terms of dollars to fat-cat politicians conducting endless wars on so many nations, is pretending to be down on corruption and human rights. As Edward Abbey said: "What's the difference between a whore and a congressman? A congressman makes more money."
Blinken, Dec 9:
On International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day, the United States is taking dozens of actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world. In doing so, we are using a range of accountability tools, including Global Magnitsky sanctions and the Department of State’s Section 7031(c) visa restriction authority, to designate more than 65 individuals and entities connected to corruption and human rights abuses in 17 countries.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that corrupt regimes are among the worst perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses. The actions we are taking today reflect U.S. efforts to address these pervasive challenges globally. By exposing the practices of these malign actors, these designations disrupt illicit activity and networks, promote accountability, and impose costs for egregious behavior. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 14:14 utc | 15
pretzelattack | Dec 13 2022 12:52 utc | 1
pretzelattack | Dec 13 2022 13:02 utc | 3
_____
:)! Nice opening comments.
Africa's most pressing problem is very similar to Russia's. Our oil, NG, diamonds, rare earth minerals and other resources happen to lie on and under their land.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 13 2022 14:26 utc | 16
Considering who was vice-president when the U.S. and its European vassals destroyed the most prosperous African nation at the time, murdered its leader and stole its gold reserves, is the summit going to be anything other than a continuous barrage of threats?
Posted by: Sid Victor Cattoni | Dec 13 2022 14:27 utc | 17
The International Criminal Court in The Hague was created in 1998 with an ostensibly global view, but the focus of its work has long been much narrower. To date, all 44 people indicted by the court have been Africans.
. . .from Al Jazeerah, July 2018, on Eurocentricism. . .
The point is that the ICC, just like the larger international legal order within which it operates, is Eurocentric and the world views, perspectives and stand points it reflects and embeds are uncompromisingly European. International institutions, and the norms, categories, priorities and theories dominant in international law come from a particular place and reflect the stand points of that place.
International law, the postcolonial theorist Antony Anghie argues, is part and parcel of the imperial knowledge system, encapsulating European imperial values, experiences and perspectives. As an integral part of this knowledge system, the ICC represents the European stand point because its theories, principles and norms were formed in the heartland of Europe, crafted in European intellectual and cultural milieus. . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 14:28 utc | 18
Europe, the Imperial Dominion, and the U.S. are so strapped they increasingly can’t afford bribes and hypocrisy. Just sickening threats, indifference, menace. They’re dangerous and desperate. They’ve made the globe their enemy, and now they’re turning on each other. Europe was gulled into thinking it could roll straight to Moscow this time, through to Siberia. Then America called in the Marshall Plan debts. Little Britain chugs along, harvesting the body heat of pensioners. It all has the potential to end poorly for everyone, which is why Russia and China are pacing themselves.
Posted by: line islands | Dec 13 2022 14:31 utc | 19
Anyone else appreciate the enormous hypocrisy it takes for Joe Biden to sanction a president's son for corruption?
Posted by: Jim Phillips | Dec 13 2022 14:11 utc | 13
Yes indeed!
Especially if you replace 'enormous hypocrisy' with 'pompous hypocrisy'.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Dec 13 2022 14:40 utc | 20
Lavrov reveals that Borrell told him “better not work in Africa, because that place is ours”
Posted by: anon2020 | Dec 13 2022 14:40 utc | 21
from US Institute for Peace, Dec 7
China has been holding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation every three years since 2000, which is widely seen as an important means of advancing Chinese diplomatic and commercial interests. Other nations hold Africa summits too, including Russia, Turkey and Japan. This is only the second Africa summit held by the United States, the first occurring in 2014.
. . .China is Africa’s largest two-way trading partner, hitting $254 billion in 2021, exceeding by a factor of four U.S.-Africa trade. China is the largest provider of foreign direct investment, supporting hundreds of thousands of African jobs. This is roughly double the level of U.S. foreign direct investment. While Chinese lending to African countries has dipped of late, China remains by far the largest lender to African countries. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 14:45 utc | 22
"Russia and China are also ethnically -- but multicultural. They practice multipolarity in their own countries.
"The conflict in Ukraine was about this. Russia supported the right of Eastern Ukraine to be itself. Multiculturalism. The US supported the fascists in Western Ukraine. Unipolarity."
julianmacfarlane | Dec 13 2022 13:04 utc | 4
____
True, yes, but we've got something very few "civilizations" have ever had, AFAIK: a great variety of new genders, pronouns, and orientations, including "minor-attracted persons", This is the bedrock foundation of strength-thru-diversity that is provided by "Cultural Marxism", LGBTQWERTY, whatever TF that is. Orwell probably never anticipated the cunning linguistics of our new leaders.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 13 2022 14:52 utc | 23
..from Macky Sall, chairman of the African Union
For the G20, I think it’s on track. Already, we have significant support. France, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia have already given their support.
For the United Nations Security Council, the debate is more difficult. In Africa, we are 54 countries. We want two permanent seats with the right to veto. That’s our position.
The current system was defined in 1946. It’s time we looked at the current global configuration. Today’s world cannot continue to function as in 1946. Almost the entire African continent, with the exception of Ethiopia, was under colonization then. We had no freedom. . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 15:09 utc | 24
@ 15, said in part;
"As Edward Abbey said: "What's the difference between a whore and a congressman? A congressman makes more money."
LOL, completely true....
Posted by: vetinLA | Dec 13 2022 15:10 utc | 25
Sanctioned President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe is not planning to attend; instead, Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister Frederick Shava will represent the country.
Posted by: Passerby | Dec 13 2022 15:25 utc | 26
But times have changed
Yeah, as the CFA Franc, France's colonial leash on a number of African nations for decades, seems to be going the way of the dodo bird, maybe Joe has concocted some ingenious plan to beef-up the dollar...as it's concurrently being dumped by much of the rest of the world.
Posted by: john | Dec 13 2022 15:26 utc | 27
Beneath all this talk and throughout history lies thinly veiled brutal gangsterism. The veneer of civilization and refinement behind which Europe and the USA have operated for centuries has long since dissolved in the eyes of the ROW. Here in the USA, the word 'Capitalism' is considered a religious sacrament in many circles and as such it is considered blasphemy to questions its sacred status. Keep in mind that few people have any idea about what it entails in history or in practice but that is not the point. The point is to make as much money as possible no matter the cost to others. Despite the fact that these practices as enacted by dozens of agencies, banks, and organizations, most people do not benefit from them. I'm not an "expert" nor am I trying to incite a slippery slope of hogwash economics, but it would appear to me that the latter stages of predatory financial (crony) capitalism are having a detrimental effect on an overwhelming majority of the population.
The Rape of Libya changed things for quite a few people, not the least being the Libyans themselves. It was as though the USA wanted its European vassals to "get blooded", gleefully leading from behind and supplying ordinance when the magazines ran dry. "See?! You are one of us now! You openly desecrated the most prosperous state in Africa for all the world to see!" Blood in, Blood out. Certainly the EU and the USA have done a (in)decent job of meddling in Africa in the current era. Greed, power lust and tribal rivalry have all been fueled the multitude of nasty tentacles that have long infiltrated the continent. But now they are being cut. Mali booted the French out, and hoisted the tri-color flag. There will be more to follow. Africa is a huge part of The Great Turning Away.
And what will come of the White House summoning the negroes to DC for a stern talking to? If I were a gambling man I would put my chips on 'backing away slowly, making deals with Russia and China, and arming to the teeth with battle proven weapons systems'. Borrell may well have issued a threat to Russia and China with his gangland style. I imagine he was met with a smile and a nod that loosely translates to "What the fuck are you gonna go about it...?"
Posted by: Chevrus | Dec 13 2022 15:32 utc | 28
re: "I fail to find a participants list for the summit at the State Department's Africa Summit page."
They're still not saying, except to say that President Biden has invited 49 African heads of state.
For Obama's 2014 Africa Summit 50 were invited and 40 attended, according to wiki.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 15:57 utc | 29
They call it a Summit. . . .but from NPR
"The three days will see several meetings between business and civil society groups. Leader-to-leader talks are expected but have not been confirmed.". . here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 16:10 utc | 30
There are some not-nice leaders in Africa.
. .from TIME
Perhaps no African leader plays this game of image management better than Paul Kagame of Rwanda, effectively in power since 2000—longer than the average Rwandan citizen has been alive. . .As Kagame once said of his political opponents, “Many of them tend to die.” . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 16:22 utc | 31
If Borrell told Russia to back off Africa, then it recalls the colonial era of EuroAfrica in the late 1800s:
https://academic.oup.com/ahr/article/122/4/1137/4320241
By Sven Beckert. Excellent context. Europe's age of empire in Africa was a response to the rise of US capitalism in North America and its power over Latin America. The failure of Europe to use Africa as an integrated economic bloc like the US was able to do on the home front, led eventually to internal crisis, fascism, Ostkreig and Barbarossa.
Posted by: Wilbur | Dec 13 2022 16:25 utc | 32
The sad truth is that African elites are making the continent a pawn in the International political game. I'm not very optimistic that the continent would break free from the the Western colonial yoke very soon. It is a cesspool of corruption out there.
Posted by: Steve | Dec 13 2022 16:26 utc | 33
I recall years ago the Robert Mugabe wanted simply to sit down to tea with the British Queen, Mrs. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, as a sign of mutual respect. The idea was rebuffed by his colonial masters.
Posted by: john dann | Dec 13 2022 16:28 utc | 34
Thanks for the posting b
Headed out for the day and will wade through comments when I return.
We are seeing the end of colonialism and it is and has always been ugly.
Wait until enough of the public in the West understands their Soylent Green position in line and watch out for the reaction.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 13 2022 16:46 utc | 35
The way that the US threw its European allies under a bus, which they were incidentally also driving, should demonstrate to everyone that even when accepting marching orders from Washington and fully allying yourself to the Western sphere of influence, the presumed protection offered by such a course is an illusion. In this regard, corruption driven by self-interest among African elites isn't a factor that plays in favor of US efforts to woo Africa or, for that matter, any nation. The arbitrary and unreliable nature of Western politics means that any gains, ill begotten or otherwise, from cooperation with Western powers can be arbitrarily confiscated at the drop of a hat, no matter the cooperation and development that precedes it. As such, the Global South will continue to prioritize cooperation with the Russia-China axis, because the West is no longer able to provide or abide by any security guarantees. Unless a dramatic shift in the Western political landscape occurs, there is simply no other alternative available and no summit can change that.
Posted by: Skiffer | Dec 13 2022 16:49 utc | 36
This quote from President Sall of Senegal cited up top is key:
"And let no one tell us no, don’t work with so-and-so, just work with us. We want to work and trade with everyone.” [My Emphasis]
And of course, that's the entire point of the "Summit" as the Empire doesn't know how to properly talk to others as equals as we've clearly seen with China. Africans say that Russia and China listen and help. Why, for example, did Mali expel its French "helpers" and replace them with Russians? China's been very active in its dialog with African nations over BRI development, and Africans have seen what China was able to accomplish by lifting its populous out of poverty. The Outlaw US Empire has NO similar example it can provide and is clearly hampered by its past and current history of Plunder.
President Sall's words show the influence of the ASEAN which has the same basic outlook. And Africans will have closely watched and listened to Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia. The Summit was China-Arab, and much of Africa is Arab and Islamic.
I expect Biden to further deepen the chasm in relations with Africa, not make amends.
Black Agenda Report sez... https://blackagendareport.com/open-veins-africa-bleeding-heavily
Posted by: Drinky Crow | Dec 13 2022 17:03 utc | 38
A wonderful way to start my day - a thread with no trolls...
Posted by: Paul Spencer | Dec 13 2022 17:15 utc | 39
Of course the US wants these weak-kneed African leaders to come to the USA begging bowls in hand. Any of these leaders, if worthy of their population’s support, would tell the US to fuck off and to take its troops, peace-corp/spooks, plundering and corrupt institutions like the World Bank, IMF, IBRD with it.
But the sad reality is that a lot of these leaders are as corrupt as their western counterparts and will be there, tugging their forelocks to their white masters and giving details of their off-shore, secret bank accounts to receive their yankee payola. Then they will return to their expectant populations and deliver the west’s agendas. It’s all about class interests, not nationalism.
Posted by: Vragtes | Dec 13 2022 17:28 utc | 40
Posted by: Drinky Crow | Dec 13 2022 17:03 utc | 38
Cheers for the linky, drinky.
Posted by: Digital Spartacus | Dec 13 2022 17:39 utc | 41
@ Steve | Dec 13 2022 16:26 utc | 33
It is a cesspool of corruption out there.
Thank heavens the western aggressors are squeaky clean.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 17:56 utc | 42
Zimbabwe has very little in the way of trade relations with the US to begin with, making the sanctions almost purely symbolic. Totally cutting off a country like Zimbabwe from the US is likely to have only a minute impact on the country - the US does not export goods that Zimbabwe wants more than substitutable goods from other nations, and the US does not import anything from Zimbabwe.
African nations may be figuring out that they don't need the US at all. While the US had previously maintained significant technological and manufacturing advantages over other nations, countries powerful enough to ignore the US's international sanctions regime, like China, are now providing an adequate substitute for US trade.
Doing business with the US comes at a cost to a country's political autonomy. There are good reasons to not want to do business with the US in the first place. It's good that Africa is asserting its economic weight for once. It's bad that the US is unlikely to take "no" for an answer.
Posted by: fnord | Dec 13 2022 18:01 utc | 43
@karlof1 | Dec 13 2022 16:55 utc | 37
the Empire doesn't know how to properly talk to others as equals
Yes
1) re: Blinken @15: ". .the United States is taking dozens of actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world." . . .but not in Washington
2) re: NPR @ 30: This "summit" is not primarily conversations among equals as when the westerners have a summit. . .but trying to sell stuff.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2022 18:04 utc | 44
In the majority of Southern and Eastern Africa, very few people like or trust US or anything coming from them. It has been so the last 50+ years. Europeans minus British are somewhat accepted as in coop, trade, and development. Chinese are welcome, but they had to change the behaviour from being more observant towards the environment, worker rights etc.
Western Africa might be somewhat inclined to US, Nigeria mostly, but Senegal and some other major players there still trust Europeans a lot more. I do not see Biden or anyone there who might succeed in turning Africa anti-Russian or anti-BRICS.
Posted by: whirlX | Dec 13 2022 18:11 utc | 45
The US backs Kagame, who as I recall, was helped by the plane shootdown (who was behind that?) that killed the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and led to the Rwandan massacre. The US stopped the UN from sending peacekeepers to stop the massacre, although no US troops were to be involved, and then used the ensuing slaughter to push the Responsibility To Protect doctrine, conveniently in time to destroy Yugoslavia in order to protect them.
But Russia can't use that doctrine, it's western only.
It also led to the Congo wars, which killed 5.4 million people and is completely ignored by the western world.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Dec 13 2022 20:46 utc | 46
Gonna get a trip to whatever island has taken the place of Epstein's island so the CIA can generate and collect some kompromat.
Posted by: Tel | Dec 13 2022 21:12 utc | 47
In the 19th century USA presidents brought Indian chiefs to Washington to meet the great white father and see how strong he was. Sitting Bull went. Crazy Horse refused. Geronimo went and got a Cadillac out of it. So not much has changed. Biden's African summit is just bringing in another batch of chiefs to dazzle them in the capital of the empire.
Posted by: Chas | Dec 13 2022 21:38 utc | 48
The big tell is how reactive it is. As has become the norm, the US sees the rest of the world doing something like engaging with Africa and realizes that it hasn't ever bothered trying to engage as something like an equal; comes up some half-developed plan to hold a "summit"; and then ends up just yelling at African leaders to do what they're told. Didn't Biden hold a "summit of democracy" or something like that?
The age of western imperialism is done, though the outer trappings and some residual power remain. They may remain for quite a while or disappear quickly. That sort of thing is really hard to predict. But without serious change in political leadership and processes in the US and Europe, it's over. We won't see that change, and the leadership that is in the west is far to self-absorbed to do the things it needs to do (maybe can't even do them anymore). When the Ukrainian conflict started the problem of grain for poor countries was immediately recognized by everyone. War, sanctions, etc. Russia has actually offered to give away grain. The US had a serious opportunity to get lot of poor countries onside by providing real aid: free food. It didn't bother, at most it offered loans to buy grain that wasn't readily available and at higher than normal prices.
Posted by: Lex | Dec 13 2022 21:59 utc | 49
Meanwhile just off the Horn of Africa Xi Jinping is celebrating with the Arab world as the belt and road channel progresses.
http://en.qstheory.cn/2022-12/08/c_837573.htm
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 13 2022 22:29 utc | 50
“ Gonna get a trip to whatever island has taken the place of Epstein's island so the CIA can generate and collect some kompromat.”
Posted by: Tel | Dec 13 2022 21:12 utc | 47
Probably close to the truth there…
Posted by: dust | Dec 13 2022 23:00 utc | 51
“They Want to Lead Us Into War”
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/12/07/aminata-dramane-traore-they-want-to-lead-us-into-war/
Posted by: Drinky Crow | Dec 13 2022 23:33 utc | 52
every bodies doing africa... in a race to exploit, who will the winners be?? is there another way?
Posted by: james | Dec 14 2022 0:00 utc | 53
Play stupid games …
Seeing as how within the next hundred years Africa is going to become the most populous continent on the planet- bigger than China and India combined and the richest and most diverse - providing the next centuries greatest scientists and businesses, the Yanks are really going about in exactly the way to guarantee they will NOT get what they believe they are entitled to have from those future Africans.
What comes after dumb, dumber and dumbest? The CW.
Certainly not the exclusive space ports on the equatorial latitude so desired by the northern and European First Worlders , who are trapped on the periphery of the World Island.
The future Multilateral United Nations body will/should be based on that continent for all sorts of good reasons whether the south, east, centre, west of the horn or the north.
A true ‘gravitational’ centre that reflects the human race.
I personally favour Libya for the history that it represents and its cruel and devastating genocide, suffered at the hands of the Collective West.
The sons daughters grandkids and enterprises of the despots are soon going to start finding the sanctions boomeranging right back at themselves in what is shaping up to be the Collective Waste. 🥴
Posted by: DunGroanin | Dec 14 2022 1:14 utc | 54
@Chevrus 28
Capitalism is always predatory. See my article at The Greanville Post, "The Six Great Thefts of Capitalism.
Posted by: Hermit | Dec 14 2022 1:17 utc | 55
USA appear unteachable. This kind of summit failed quite recently with ASEAN and South America.
The Afghanistan scenario. The West not only won't invest in African development, it won't allow others to do it either - consistent attempts at bloodshed in the strategically important Horn of Africa, key BRI area, etc
Jason, Medea and the Dragon's teeth
-----+
How the Chinese try to do it
China's consul general tells Pakistan "the heavy imbalance" in the bilateral trade is a "problem" that Islamabad should resolve through import substitution
"You import more and export less, even though my government in cooperation with your government is trying to narrow down the trade deficit. We want to see balanced trade."
'Islamabad needs to curtail imports, says Chinese envoy'
https://www.dawn.com/news/1682515
---
re:Lex Dec 13 2022 21:59
Russia offered to give the fertilizer, hostage in Western ports, for free too, so that the poor can feed themselves
Posted by: glupi | Dec 14 2022 1:52 utc | 56
The sheer irony of Joe Biden sanctioning another president's son for corruption.
Posted by: let's get bizzay | Dec 14 2022 2:28 utc | 57
Vragtes | Dec 13 2022 17:28 utc | 40
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John Perkins describes the Empire's neo-colonial process of plundering developing countries in Confessions of an Economic Hit ManI. First they send in economic "advisors" like him to build dubious development projects incurring unpayable debt (to IMF, World Bank and/or selling land, natural resources, and labor cheaply to US corps (like United Fruit). It usually requires corrupting local elites to betray their own people -- with bribes or blackmail. If leaders cant be bought, there's a succession of tools --- electioneering, regime change, assassinations, and finally, military intervention. It's a process repeated all over the world for many decades. Stop me if you've heard this before.
Its refreshing to see Russia and China finally breaking this pattern of gangsterism.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 14 2022 3:43 utc | 58
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 14 2022 3:43 utc | 58
I'm amazed that book got published. I guess the powers that be didn't have so much control over information, then, or maybe less reason to worry about it getting out.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 14 2022 3:53 utc | 59
Posted by: james | Dec 14 2022 0:00 utc | 53
maybe I'm naive, but I think Russia and China are genuinely interested in cooperation.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 14 2022 3:54 utc | 60
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 14 2022 3:53 utc | 59
Agreed. That book helped open my eyes. Time to bring in the jackals…
p.s. don’t think they worry too much about information getting out anymore. Seem to focus their energy on who can actually organize and do anything about it. Very hard to do in this extremely divided population(on purpose). Divide and conquer. On and on it goes…
Posted by: dust | Dec 14 2022 4:04 utc | 61
Remember Omar Khaddifi? He working on a united Africa. And at the time, Libya was the richest country in Africa. Thirty thousand Chinese were in Africa building infrastructure and selling manufactured goods. Then came Hillary.
That was then. This is now. Africans will remember. China have continued their civil engineering projects in so many countries, and are called by some the best civil engineers in the world. Trade from China, the biggest manufacturing country, has long been all over Africa. There are stories about intermarriage online.
However, think of Vietnam and Iraq. Sometimes, US conflicts are mainly about selling weapons and reducing competition.
Posted by: HelenB | Dec 14 2022 4:40 utc | 62
Well before Confessions was Hudson's Super Imperialism just after the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s. Soon after there was Manufacturing Consent. By 1980, there was plenty of outstanding evidence of what, how and why the Outlaw US Empire was doing what it was doing. I was very fortunate to have teachers that pointed in the right direction; millions we're as fortunate and thus we're far worse than 40+ years ago.
@ pretzelattack | Dec 14 2022 3:54 utc | 60
i'd like to think so too... i suppose it depends whether we are able to break the cycle of greed or not.. i say that collectively speaking.. btw - that john perkins book is quite good.. and yes - it did get published so things are more open then we maybe imagine..
Posted by: james | Dec 14 2022 4:47 utc | 64
james @64--
This was allowed on Musk's Twitter whereas before it would've been censored and its author's privileges would've been suspended:
"You [Blinken] are a major war criminal who are helping the US government & NATO murder thousands of ethnic Russian civilians in Ukraine.
"You should be tried for war crimes & spend the next 30 years in prison without parole. Ditto for Jake Sullivan, Victoria Nuland, and President Joe Biden."
Do check out who's the author.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 14 2022 4:40 utc |
That is good luck on your part or good karma who knows. My teachers taught me manifest destiny, how the US defeated the nazis in ww2(now know it was the RF)
,how barbaric the Russians/Chinese are, Vietnam was for our freedom, 9/11 was done by a 6’4” Arab in a cave from Afghanistan that no one could find, Iraq helped them so we must invade pls sign up. And of course we had to drop the bomb, two actually to end ww2. What a load of shit!
That’s awesome you had someone who had the fortitude to point you in the right direction. A lot of people had to read their way through a tidal wave of bs/propaganda before they landed in a place like this(yrs of reading). Had to unlearn all that crap, accept most of what we have been taught even through college was a lie, accept how stupid we were for being duped, come out of an existential depression upon learning we were duped, start re-educating ourselves in the midst of everyone around us is telling us we are crazy, normal life problems(kids, food, shelter, bills etc…), then try and figure out what to do about it. I guess my question is and maybe I’m just too new to all this, but what have the people who knew this all along been doing?
Posted by: dust | Dec 14 2022 5:42 utc | 66
@ dust | Dec 14 2022 5:42 utc | 66 who wrote
"
I guess my question is and maybe I’m just too new to all this, but what have the people who knew this all along been doing?
"
Trying to survive within the system without compromising too much of yourself while constantly being bullied, shunned and talked down to by the exceptional ones. I don't know about others but it has only been since the intertubes that I have been able to find a community of folks that think somewhat like I do.
YMMV
Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 14 2022 6:11 utc | 67
There will always be some African leaders who are wholly under the control of colonial masters, like my country's "President" Ramaphosa. Much of the "ruling class" in Africa is hopelessly submissive to colonial masters (Fanon's "Pitfalls of National Consciousness" is very acute about the failings of the colonial bourgeoisie). Look what recently happened in Peru; maybe the Americans organised it, but it couldn't have happened if the Peruvian ruling class hadn't backed it and the Peruvian working class refused to see the advantages of supporting someone who might have helped them.
So I think this summit, while it is utterly absurd by any standard and replete with too many ironies to be counted, may still make some Americans some money and will probably get a lot of Africans killed.
Posted by: MFB | Dec 14 2022 7:46 utc | 68
Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 14 2022 6:11 utc | 67
Thanks. Understood and agree.
p.s. appreciate the link on the quantitative eegs. Sorry b again way off topic.
Posted by: dust | Dec 14 2022 10:49 utc | 69
Now that the Summit has opened, Global Times provides us with some analysis and background info. First, here's an excellent infographic providing some background data that only takes a few minutes to absorb. Next is a well-crafted editorial, "US has made its Africa strategy a Gordian knot:
The second US-Africa Leaders Summit kicked off on Tuesday in Washington and will last for three days. The US-based Foreign Policy magazine reported that "Team Biden wants to court African nations without talking about Beijing." But this was broken on the first day. At a panel discussion with several African leaders, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said China was expanding its footprint in Africa "on a daily basis" through its growing economic influence, which will "destabilize" the continent....The day ahead of the summit, the US pledged to provide $55 billion to Africa over the course of the next three years in economic, health and security support for Africa. Then, the US announced an expansion of its cooperation and capabilities in outer space to include some African countries. It is reported that during the summit, President Joe Biden will declare US support for the African Union's admission to the G20. These are of course good things. Now that the US has made so many promises, it should focus on fulfilling it.
China is willing to see more countries, including the US, offer sincere help to Africa, as the saying goes, "the more the better." African countries also are eager to seek strong support and assistance to deal with the food crisis, financial crisis, and fiscal crisis in the post-pandemic era. In this regard, there are many things the US can, needs and should do. But what's concerning is if the US will play the "lip service" trick once again.
And last we have an analytical article, " Partisan struggle in Washington makes US commitments to Africa ‘laughable lip-service’" that deals with the reality that what Outlaw US Empire presidents promise are rarely if ever delivered as made--Obama's is an excellent example--because of Congressional wrangles. IMO, most of the attendees came because they needed a short vacation, not because they expected something tangible.
To the people with knowledge about Africa. Where in Africa do the Empires biggest interests lie? Where are they willing to invest long term (propaganda, NGOs, regime change)?
Posted by: Tapio | Dec 18 2022 21:56 utc | 71
White men from the EU and USA still think it is ok to murder African leaders who look out for their people.
Posted by: atm | Dec 19 2022 2:26 utc | 72
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they get a day pass to the garden.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 13 2022 12:52 utc | 1