AFRICOM: Deadly Deception

AFRICOM: Deadly Deception

By Friends of Congo

Published Oct. 7, 2020 in Black Agenda Report

AFRICOM's real aim was never peace nor stability but rather, strategic US interests.

“With the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the resistance to AFRICOM became exceedingly difficult.”

On October 1, 2007, the United States under the presidency of George W. Bush and the military leadership of the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, launched the Africa Command (AFRICOM). The command was based in Stuttgart, Germany. In the same vein as the 1884/85 Berlin Conference, AFRICOM was a wholly external concoction to be imposed on Africans without their input or consent. In fact, when African leaders first heard of the establishment of an African command, they overwhelmingly rejected its intent to expand U.S. military presence on the African continent. Even during President Bush's trip to the continent in 2008, African leaders roundly rejected US military expansion  on the continent. The only country that was amenable to the presence of AFRICOM on African soil was Liberia under the leadership of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 

Although Bush appointed Morgan State University graduate, Kip Ward, an African American four-star general to head up AFRICOM and continued to claim that the intent of AFRICOM was not to establish US military bases in Africa, he still faced stiff resistance. Kip Ward waxed eloquently  about AFRICOM being established to support humanitarian assistance efforts in Africa, build wells and prevent conflict.

“African leaders first overwhelmingly rejected an expanded U.S. military presence on the African continent.”

In order for otherwise reasonable and critical people to buy the deception of the US military having as its main aim humanitarian assistance support and peace and stability in Africa, they have to already subscribe to certain preconceived notions about Africa and Africans. In essence, the US military has traded in the notion that Africa is a poor continent in need of charity. The opposite is true -- Africa is a rich continent, in fact the richest continent on the planet in natural resources that has been plundered for the past 500 years, starting with the trafficking in African bodies and today with the super exploitation of oil, copper, cobalt, coltan, diamonds, gold, bauxite, timber and myriad other natural riches. The charity propaganda combined with the command being led by a Black man and then to be championed by a Black president with the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the resistance to AFRICOM became exceedingly difficult. The path was cleared under the Obama presidency to the point where the US military presence on the African continent expanded nearly 2,000 percent  under his presidency. In addition, under the Obama administration with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Susan Rice as US Ambassador to the United Nations, AFRICOM led the bombing of Libya in cahoots with NATO to effect "regime change" in Libya by removing Muammar Gaddafi from power. Hillary Clinton infamously stated on her visit to Libya after the murder of Gaddafi, “We came, we saw, he died.”

Today, Libya and the surrounding countries in the Sahel, particularly Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are a living hell due to the fall out from the Nato/AFRICOM bombing campaign and subsequent government overthrow in Libya. 

“AFRICOM led the bombing of Libya in cahoots with NATO.”

Should one make an objective assessment of one of AFRICOM's signature claims at its inception –- “to bring stability and assist in advancing peace and stability in Africa” -- one would have to conclude that AFRICOM has been an abject failure. However, knowledgeable people know that AFRICOM's real aim was never peace nor stability but rather, strategic interests. The United States uses its military throughout the globe to bring about full spectrum domination and Africa is no exception. A case in point is the United States' recent push to acquire permission from Kenya to conduct drone strikes  in its territory. Should Somalia serve as an example or model where US drone strikes have killed civilians, Kenyans would be forewarned to categorically reject this request from the US.

This article previously appeared in the Friends of Congo blogspot.

Why We Focus on Africa

Why We Focus on Africa

By the Black Alliance for Peace

Published Sept. 30, 2020 in Black Agenda Report

With reports each week of yet another Black victim of police violence, there is for many an ever-growing desperation. As activists search for a way forward, Africa’s plight does not find its way on to the movement agenda. But there is good reason to be concerned about what goes on in Africa. The problems there and the problems here are related.

Africa has long been the focus of foreign exploitation of the continent’s land, resources, and people. As everyone knows, Africans find themselves in the Western Hemisphere because of slavery and its exploitation of the labor of those who were enslaved. But the interest in Africa of those foreign to that continent was not limited to human trafficking. There was an even greater interest in Africa’s gold, diamonds, cobalt, oil, and other natural resources too numerous to list.

Because Africa was colonized by western capitalist interests and robbed of its wealth, Africans resisted and drove the colonizers from the continent, or so they thought. In the years since independence came to Africa, it has become painfully clear that European colonizers have managed to retain their grip on the continent by various means, including the manipulation of corrupt African public officials.

The United States always had its hand in the exploitation of Africa, but it has never been widely regarded as a colonizer. The U.S. likes it that way because it is helpful to its global image as a benevolent justice-loving democratic nation. However, under cover of darkness the U.S. has played a leading role in maintaining an iron western grip on Africa.

Observers note that in 2019, U.S. Special Operations Forces were deployed in 22 African countries, and in recent years these troops engaged in active combat in at least 13. In addition to direct combat, U.S. military forces conduct joint training operations with the military forces of most of the countries on the African continent. These operations are carefully designed to serve U.S. interests. If the interests of the host African countries are also served, it is coincidental. All of this military activity is sponsored and coordinated by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The public statements made by AFRICOM about its work are crafted to portray the command as an armed Peace Corps that digs wells, delivers medicine, and builds hospitals while simultaneously protecting African villages from international terrorists. The reality is that the mission is to advance and protect the operations of western corporations. When it comes to that job the U.S. is eclipsed only by the French.

France has maintained an active and aggressive military presence in Africa for years, and the U.S. has been an enthusiastic supporter. AFRICOM makes no secret of this fact. Its commander said, “France is the United States’ oldest ally, and a leader in the counterterrorism fight in Africa. We share common threats, mutual concerns, and a commitment to fighting violent extremist organizations.” That comment translated means the U.S. teams with France to protect western corporate interests and brands anyone who gets in their way a terrorist. This can sometimes have fatal consequences.

In 2017, four U.S. soldiers were killed in Niger. The reason for their presence in that country was not clearly explained by the Pentagon, but it is likely that their mission was related to the fact that for decades the French company Areva has mined uranium in Niger for French consumption and established extensive operations in the Nigerien town of Arlit. In 2013, France began to fear attacks on these facilities, and they deployed troops to protect them. The U.S. had troops in the region too, probably to assist the French. Four soldiers paid the price with their lives.

Libya, too, was the site of French and U.S. military meddling that ultimately plunged the country into total violent chaos. The objective was to frustrate the late Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi’s efforts to establish a Pan-African currency (that would devalue the French franc); and, to gain control of Libya’s oil fields.

Western domination of Africa’s wealth by military force hurts Africa, but it also hurts African people in the U.S. Although many harbor stale beliefs that the people of Africa care nothing about their stolen African family members in the United States, the contrary was proven dramatically by Africa’s outpouring of support and solidarity in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. Imagine the changes that would have occurred if those demonstrations of support had been accompanied by financial support to the movement, diplomatic arm-twisting and economic pressure. Africa cannot demonstrate that type of independence and power because the entire continent has a giant U.S. military boot on its neck. It falls to those of us who are up-close and personal to AFRICOM to untie the laces of that boot and cause the U.S. military operations in Africa to trip and crash.

This is what we intend with the International Day of Action on AFRICOM and our ongoing campaign to shut down AFRICOM.

The International Day of Action on AFRICOM (October 1, 2020) aims to raise the public's awareness about the U.S. military's existence in Africa, and how the presence of U.S. forces exacerbates violence and instability throughout the continent. The Black Alliance for Peace calls on our friends to endorse this day as an individual or organization and to organize an educational event, for which we have provided materials on our webpage: https:/.blackallianceforpeace.com/DayOfActionOnAFRICOM

Porqué Nos Centramos en África

Porqué Nos Centramos en África

Escrito por la Alianza Negra Por La Paz

Publicado el 30 de septiembre de 2020 en Black Agenda Report

https://www.blackagendareport.com/why-we-focus-africa

África no puede manifestar su independencia y poder porque todo el continente tiene una gigantesca bota militar estadounidense en el cuello.

"La presencia de las fuerzas estadounidenses exacerba la violencia y la inestabilidad en todo el continente"

Las noticias de una nueva víctima Negra de la violencia policial cada semana, desatan una desesperación para muchas personas que aumenta sin cesar. Mientras los activistas buscan un camino para avanzar, la difícil situación de África no encuentra su camino en la agenda de este movimiento. Sin embargo, hay motivo suficiente para preocuparse por lo que sucede en África. Los problemas de allí y los de aquí están relacionados.

El continente africano ha sido durante mucho tiempo el centro de la explotación extranjera de su tierra, sus recursos y su gente. Como es bien conocido, los africanos se encuentran en el Hemisferio Occidental debido a la esclavitud y la explotación del trabajo de aquellos que fueron esclavizados. Pero el interés por África de los extranjeros al continente no se limitó a la trata de personas. Hubo un interés aún mayor en su oro, su diamantes, su cobalto, su petróleo y otros recursos naturales demasiado numerosos para enumerarlos.

Debido a que África fue colonizada por intereses capitalistas occidentales y la despojaron de su riqueza, los africanos resistieron y expulsaron a los colonizadores del continente, o eso creyeron. En los años transcurridos desde que África alcanzó la independencia, ha quedado claro lamentablemente que los colonizadores europeos han logrado mantener su control sobre el continente por diversos medios, incluida la manipulación de funcionarios públicos africanos corruptos.

"Los africanos resistieron y expulsaron a los colonizadores del continente, o eso creyeron"

Estados Unidos siempre ha extendido sus garras para la explotación de África, pero nunca se le ha considerado generalmente como un colonizador. Los EE. UU. han estado encantados con esta percepción porque es útil para su imagen global como una nación democrática benevolente y amante de la justicia. Sin embargo, cobijados en la oscuridad, los Estados Unidos han desempeñado un papel de liderazgo en el mantenimiento de un férreo control occidental sobre África.

Algunos observadores señalan que en 2019, se desplegaron las Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales de EE. UU en 22 países africanos, y en los últimos años estas tropas participaron en combate activo en al menos 13 países. Además del combate directo, las fuerzas militares de EE. UU realizan operaciones de entrenamiento conjuntas con las fuerzas militares de la mayoría de los países del continente africano. Estas operaciones están cuidadosamente diseñadas para servir a los intereses estadounidenses. Si sirven al mismo tiempo a los intereses de los países africanos anfitriones, es pura coincidencia.

Toda esta actividad militar está patrocinada y coordinada por el Comando para África de Estados Unidos (AFRICOM).

Las declaraciones públicas difundidas por AFRICOM sobre sus funciones están diseñadas para ofrecer un perfil del este Comando como un Cuerpo de Paz armado que cava pozos, distribuye medicinas y construye hospitales al mismo tiempo que protege a las aldeas africanas de los terroristas internacionales. La realidad es que su misión es promover y proteger las operaciones de las corporaciones occidentales. Cuando se trata de ese trabajo, Estados Unidos solo está eclipsado por los franceses.

"Su misión es promover y proteger las operaciones de las corporaciones occidentales"

Francia ha mantenido una presencia militar activa y agresiva en África durante años, entre tanto, Estados Unidos ha sido un adepto entusiasta. AFRICOM no oculta este hecho. Su comandante dijo: “Francia es el aliado más antiguo de Estados Unidos y un líder en la lucha antiterrorista en África. Compartimos amenazas comunes, preocupaciones mutuas y el compromiso de luchar contra las organizaciones extremistas violentas”. Ese comentario traducido significa que Estados Unidos se asocia a Francia para proteger los intereses corporativos occidentales y tildar a cualquiera que se interponga en su camino como terrorista. A veces, esto tiene consecuencias fatales.

“Estados Unidos se asocia a Francia para proteger los intereses corporativos occidentales”

En 2017, cuatro soldados estadounidenses fueron asesinados en Níger. El Pentágono no explicó claramente el motivo de su presencia en ese país, pero es probable que su misión estuviera relacionada con el hecho de que durante décadas la empresa francesa Areva ha extraído uranio en Níger para consumo francés y ha establecido amplias operaciones en la nigeriana ciudad de Arlit. En 2013, Francia comenzó a temer ataques a estas instalaciones y desplegó tropas para protegerlas. Estados Unidos también tenía tropas en la región, probablemente para ayudar a los franceses. Cuatro soldados pagaron el precio con sus vidas.

Libia también fue el escenario de la intromisión militar francesa y estadounidense que finalmente sumió al país en un caos total y violento. El objetivo era frustrar los esfuerzos del fallecido líder libio Muammar Gadhafi por establecer una moneda panafricana (que devaluaría el franco francés); y hacerse con el control de los campos petroleros de Libia. 

La dominación occidental sobre la riqueza de África impuesta por la fuerza militar perjudica a África, pero también a los africanos de los EE. UU. Aunque muchos albergan viejas creencias de que a la gente de África no le importan los miembros de su familia africana expoliados en los Estados Unidos, los africanos demostraron lo contrario radicalmente a juzgar por la efusión de apoyo y solidaridad tras el asesinato de George Floyd. Imagínemos los cambios que se hubieran producido, si esas manifestaciones de apoyo hubieran estado acompañadas de apoyo financiero al movimiento, y de presiones diplomáticas y económicas. África no puede hacer alarde de ese tipo de independencia y poder porque todo el continente tiene una gigantesca bota militar estadounidense en el cuello. Nos corresponde a aquellos de nosotros que estamos frente a frente con el AFRICOM desatar los cordones de esa bota y hacer que las operaciones militares de Estados Unidos en África tropiecen y se estrellen.

Esto es lo que pretendemos con el Día Internacional de Acción sobre AFRICOM y nuestra campaña en curso para acabar con AFRICOM.

El Día Internacional de Acción sobre AFRICOM (1 de octubre de 2020) tiene como objetivo concienciar al público sobre la existencia de un ejército estadounidense en África y cómo esta presencia de fuerzas estadounidenses agudiza la violencia y la inestabilidad en todo el continente. Hacemos un llamamiento a nuestros amigos para que apoyen este día individualmente o como organización a fin de que se prepare un evento educativo, para lo cual hemos proporcionado materiales en nuestra página web: blackallianceforpeace.com/dayofactiononafricom

Traducido para UMOYA por Nuria Blanco de Andres, Madrid 30 Septiembre 2020

Expanding Monstrous US Drone War to Kenya is Bi-Partisan Madness

By Netfa Freeman | Black Agenda Report

The absence of a domestic backlash against US Africa policy is testament to the blind spots of our movement.

Instead of being a remnant of its past, US genocidal repression, labor exploitation and resource plundering against Indigenous and African (Black) people now extends to peoples across the planet. The tyranny of US racial capitalism over Black people stretches to the African motherland, without the bat of an eye by Black misleaders. READ MORE

Freedom Rider: Losers, Suckers and War

By Margaret Kimberley | Black Agenda Report

Democrats are up in arms over Trump’s latest mouth-burst, but the truth is that both corporate parties have made the people suckers for endless, “bipartisan” wars.

Americans certainly love war. Most will deny having those feelings, they will instead talk about warfare as a means of protecting freedom, spreading democracy or fighting tyrants. The end result of course is mass death, mostly of people in far away and non-white lands, but also of significant numbers of Americans. The carnage is usually downplayed in favor of worshipping those who go to kill and perhaps be killed themselves. This twisted dynamic is most visible when anyone dares to question the narrative of exceptionalism and benevolent warriors. READ MORE

AFRICOM Crying Russia in Libya: A Pot and Kettle Syndrome

By Netfa Freeman | Black Agenda Report

The US waged unprovoked war against Libya and has militarily occupied Africa, but is still singing its old song that Russia is the aggressor on the continent.

Despite its diminishing global heft, the US remains a superpower of hypocrisy. These days when it comes to Russia one can get a case study on US imperialism simply by inversing the accusations Washington levels against that country. READ MORE

Community Control of the Police - and a Whole Lot More

By Glen Ford | Black Agenda Report

Abolition of the police begins with community control, in which community representatives not only hire, fire and oversee the cops, but decide the nature of the policing that is necessary and acceptable.

The wave of people’s protests across the nation, backed by solidarity actions in cities around the world, has caused the corporate oligarchy and its servants to make promises they can’t keep and give lip service to programs they have always resisted. READ MORE

Turkish Media Interviews Ajamu Baraka on George Floyd Protests

Click here and scroll to pages 6-7 for an interview in Turkish with BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka.

First Somali Congressperson Legitimizes AFRICOM and US Drone War

By Tunde Osazua and Netfa Freeman | Black Agenda Report

Rep. Omar recently commended the US war machine for increasing the “transparency” and “accountability” of its bombing of her native country.

United States representatives, no matter their racial or ethnic backgrounds, appear unable to perceive the inherent white supremacy in the notion that the US has some altruistic responsibility to police the continent of Africa with military troops and supervisors. As a result, "people of color," such as the Somali-"American" Congresswoman IIhan Omar provide political and moral cover to the presence of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the dubious claims about “US interests” on the continent. READ MORE

The Makings of A Capitalist Dystopia

By Erica Caines | Black Agenda Report

Colonized people, with a horrific historical connection to both science and medicine in this country, must examine science in service of the state.

As the days of the pandemic tick by, we are witnessing overwhelming evidence that the U.S. is using COVID-19 as an instrument to institute a capitalist dystopia. But this is no blockbuster Hollywood film. This is today’s new potential reality through the national security state apparatus. While there is no denying that people are suffering (and dying) from COVID-19 and neoliberal austerity, we must be acutely aware that the state’s reaction is not protecting us from the virus. READ MORE