America’s Latest Plan to Intensify the Looting of Africa
On Saturday 20th October 2018, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, appointed former Kenyas’ Prime Minister Raila Odinga as High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa (africa.cgtn.com, 20/10/2018) Raila becomes the first and current occupant of the newly created post of African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development. His appointment as AU envoy comes barely two days after both Raila and Uhuru were honoured with Black History Month, African Peace Award 2018 for the March 9 handshake. The award ceremony took place at the British House of Parliament, Westminster Palace in the UK on 18 October 2018 (The Star, 18/10/2018).
In order to put into context America’s latest plan we highlight the following:
First: Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established on 25 May 1963 and later disbanded on 9 July 2002 and replaced with African Union (AU) with Thabo Mbeki (South Africa) as its first Chairperson from 9 July 2002 to 10 July 2003. Initial OAU and now AU is just an extension of the Western colonial masters especially Britain and America who use its sub-servant leadership to perpetuate neo-colonialist policies across Africa and in their respective African-nations. Currently AU’s Assembly is chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame – 28 January 2018 and AU’s Commission (Secretariat) is chaired by Chadian Diplomat Mousa Faki Mahamat – 14 March 2017; both are from the American camp which in turn means currently America is in total control of AU’s top leadership.
Second: AU’s current priorities under Kagame and Mousa’s are peace and security as informed by the American manipulative policy in Africa. During his first week in office Mousa Faki visited Somalia, where an AU force is battling Al-Shabaab’s resilient insurgency. In his second week, he travelled to South Sudan and in April 2017 he spearheaded the signing of the long-delayed Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Cooperation on Peace and Security (ICG, 17/01/2018). As Kagame ascended the AU chair’s office, Rex Tillerson the former US State Secretary visited AU’s leadership on 8 March 2018 and had a meeting with Mousa Faki on security and counter-terrorism, trade and development, corruption and conflict in Africa (Capital News, 08/03/2018)
Third: Kenyans on 9 March 2018 were taken by surprise when they watched Kenyatta and Odinga shaking hands at the footsteps of Harambee House in Nairobi. This was after their meeting where they resolved to work together and unite the country after the long protracted elections! It was not making any sense at all, but what made sense was the timing of their decision, which was almost 5 hours to the visit by the former US State Secretary Rex Tillerson to Nairobi. Their decision and the visit of US foreign top diplomat confirmed that indeed there was a compromise between US and Britain via their agent rulers. Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Donald Yamamoto admitted that the US had engaged extensively with Odinga on the need for reconciliation ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Speaking to The Wallstreet Journal, confirmed the engagement, stating that “we said to him … is that you have a really tremendous opportunity for historic times to really push forward political and economic reforms”. [Pulse, 10/03/2018]
Fourth: Raila’s maden trip on 24 May 2018 to South Sudan as a special envoy representing African Union (AU) and had a seven-hour meeting with South Sudan President Salva Kiir and later travelled to South Africa to meet former South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar to discuss a possible solution to the conflict in South Sudan [Daily Nation 27/05/2018]. Ultimately the two rivals signed a unity government deal on Sunday 5 August 2018 in Khartoum, presided over by President Omar Bashir (Sudan) together with President Uhuru Kenyatta [The Star 05/08/2018].
Fifth: China’s global economy has surpassed that of the US in 2016. China is the world’s No.1 trading partner for 138 out of the world’s 200 nations. In 2014, official statistics show that China has a record high of $220 billion in bilateral trade with Africa. Making China the largest trading partner for Africa in which it has pumped billions of money in the infrastructure development initiatives. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched China’s One Belt, One Road strategy, which centers on pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ports, rail lines and other projects across Asia, Europe and Africa.
Therefore, Raila’s appointment is a confirmation that AU’s top leadership as guided by the American-hand behind the scene created the new office to accommodate and reward their master’s friend to spearhead their master’s hidden agenda in the continent. The agenda is to counter Chinese infrastructure development maneuvers in Africa as confirmed by Rex Tillerson’s statement during a visit to Africa “Chinese investment does have the potential to address Africa’s infrastructure gap, but its approach has led to mounting debt and few if any jobs in most countries. When coupled with political and fiscal pressure, this endangers Africa’s natural resources and its long-term economic and political stability.” (CNN, 10/03/2018)
In essence, America wants to use Raila as a “continental statesman” whose mandate includes mobilizing further political support from AU Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and facilitating greater ownership by all concerned stakeholders on the continent. He will also support the Commission and NEPAD initiatives to encourage increased commitment from development partners. In other words, he is supposed to play an influential role of turning the tables against Chinese infrastructure development funding in Africa such that most infrastructure development projects earmarked for Africa through AU are to be financed through pro-US institutions. Raila will also engage “development partners’ and lenders including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and bilateral donors to fund continental projects.” (The Star, 25/10/2018). Since in 2016 China used $6.413 billion against that of pro-US institutions World Bank -$3.642 billion and International Finance Corporation (IFC) -$413 million (ICA, 2016)
In conclusion, America is using its African-agent leaders to intensify its looting of African resources by engaging in state-capture via multibillion-debt initiatives in the name of infrastructure development funds. America does not care about Africa’s issues but her eyes are fixed on realizing her interests, which currently are facing some competition from the Chinese economic inroads in the name of “infrastructure development initiative”
Africa’s Renaissance lies in the embracement of the Khilafah golden-project. The Khilafah re-established on the method of Prophet (saw) will ensure that Africa’s true potential is realized by chasing away Western-colonialists from its land. Furthermore, the Economic System of Islam implemented by the Islamic State of Khilafah will guarantee peace and tranquility by utilizing Africa’s resources for Africa’s genuine growth and development. Hence, Africa will emerge as one of the vibrant economies in the world under the guardianship of the Eminent Khalifah who rules by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Ali Nassoro Ali
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya