What accounts for African responses to the creation of the U.S. Africa Command? Rather than attributing negative reactions to Pentagon “public relations” errors, a content analysis of over 500 African news reports shows that countries sustaining high levels of growth with lower overall levels of foreign aid were more critical of AFRICOM – even if they are traditional American allies. The findings, to be published in Africa Today, suggest that recent economic progress among African countries is contributing to their policy latitude.
China makes the perfect Cold War villain: communist, aloofly “self-interested,” and rapidly expanding an economic empire. Let’s hope America and China can keep the war cold in what is becoming a heated economic battle for control of Africa.
On October 27th, military contractors and mercenaries will come to DC to attend a conference on "Engaging AFRICOM." Under the umbrella of the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA), these contractors will discuss opportunities for making money off of the Pentagon’s new military command.
IPOA only encourages and enables the militarization of Africa through AFRICOM. U.S. Government spending — our tax dollars — shouldn’t enable the Department of Defense to pursue its Middle East agenda in Africa.
Whether victims of domestic policing or foreign occupation, anti-war activists or liberation fighters, environmentalists or people of faith, citizens must stand united against the military’s newest exertion of power.
Join us to protest AFRICOM and the IPOA Conference. Speakers and musicians will take the stage at Taft Memorial Park for a rally, followed by a protest outside the IPOA Conference at the Liaison Hotel.
For more information, or to get involved, please contact:
Saif Rahman, Institute for Policy Studies, 202-234-9382 x 254; saif@ips-dc.org And check out the Resist AFRICOM site.
