Preparing for War and Preparing for Peace ... the Sahel Freedom Fund

By Lloyd O. Pierson ; Senior International Adviser for USASEF

        A legendary singer/songwriter/storyteller who always supported the U.S. military  and frequently appeared at USO shows was once asked if in military terms he was a "hawk" and he thoughtfully replied, "No, but I am a Dove with claws."  The dove with claws analogy is sound as policy makers determine what actions to take to reclaim the Mali area north from Timbuctu to Gao and what to do about increasing tensions in the Sahel.  Both a military and a peace plan should be developed.  Decisions made within the next few weeks will not only greatly impact Mali, but the entire Sahel and it is not hyperbole to say even all of Africa and U.S. relations.  Not only is military action being prepared against brutal religious jealouts who impose their own beliefs on others, but a peace plan should also be developed that includes a Sahel Freedom Fund that concentrates on the Mali/Niger/Mauritania area, but also spans across the Sahel from Somalia to Mauritania and perhaps even the Western Sahara. 
        In a recent security council vote, the United Nations Security Council has approved military force and in view of the brutality of the Jihadists, their occupation of the land from Timbuctu and Gao north and the suppression of the indigenous people living in the area, the force is justified.  That does not mean it will be easy, or if it will be successful, or even if it will occur.  Details related to the size of a force, supply and support troops necessary, and the actual number of foreign fighters in northern Mali, are not known at this time but are being worked out. No military force is better than the United States and working in conjunction with the French and African troops, it is quite certain a sizable , well supported military force will be assembled and once it is started will move quickly to control the area.  Casualties will likely occur, but there should be little doubt that the western technical advisors and African troops will prevail.

        Unknown and not very predictable is the political consequence.  While they may not publicly applaud the military force, many Africans will privately support and appreciate the U.S. led effort.  They look to the U.S. for leadership, strength and guidance and they well recognize the terrorism that is occurring in the desert and how it could expand.  That is one of the reasons why the Pentagon will soon start sending U.S. military teams to a high percentage of African nations to train host country troops in military and counter-terrorism techniques.  African governments and population groups across the Sahel are and will face similar threats and human values of democracy and freedom will be even more difficult to achieve as religious beliefs will dictate how the people should live and behave.  Freedom to work and achieve will not be possible.  It is feared that military action will polarize populations even more, destabalize Mali even more, and have negative consequences for the participating African governments.  The choice, however, seems clear that the present situation in northern Mali cannot be allowed to continue.
        At the same time as the military preparations are underway, planning and implementation should start for peace.  While there is a history of tribal conflict throughout the Sahel, there also is a great cultural, intellectual and survival skill record. Entrepreneurial skills and the desire for dignity in the desert is very common.  Ranging from Somalia to Mauritania, desert populations have learned how to live, and sometimes flourish, in some of the most difficult global environments.  Acute droughts and famine, along with the conflicts, have taken their toll, but when individuals or populations have been able to earn a living and support their family and community, huge differences have been made.  There often are other ways to resolve conflicts than armed force.

        In 1990, during the height of a brutal internal conflict in Mozambique, the St. Eligio Society of Rome began an intervention with the competing parties, Frelimo and Renamo.  The Frelimo/Renamo conflict had resulted in more deaths and injuries than the Khmer Rouge had inflicted in Camboidia.  Families, land and resources were destroyed, but after prolonged skilled negotiations, both sides agreed to end the conflict and hold democratic elections.  American and African representatives were assigned to work with each party and help them transform from military entitles to democratic parties.  The negotiations and the implementation worked and now Mozambique is one of the shining stars of Africa.  Negotiations can work if all the parties involved want to seek a resolution and if sensitive, skilled negotiators are assigned to work with the individuals and parties involved.  Both elements are essential.  Negotiating parties can often resolve issues better if they go to a neutral area.
        While humanitarian assistance is common throughout the Sahel area, long term gift aid creates a dependency that is extremely difficult to stop.  Traditional development theory adopts the Maslow hierarchy of needs listing food and lodging as the priorities and while those priorities are correct, it does not mean that human respect and dignity has to be compromised by continuously providing free food and lodging.  Sometimes necessary, yes, but the development component should also include the self actualization theme of an individual working to earn what they have.  In collaboration with the European Union, western nationa should establish a Sahel Freedom Fund, which would concentrate on economic development, including water well maintenance and constructtion, and life skill training.  All of the western nations have a stake in helping to ensure peace in the Sahel area and all should contribute. 
        Administration of the Sahel Freedom Fund could be handled by the African Union or perhaps even better the President Nelson Mandela co-chaired group called the Africa Forum; however, in any circumstances the administrative body must be closely monitored and have as a criteria low overhead and high results.  Along with the military planning, there needs to be an overall Marshall type plan developed to constrain the turmoil, tension, and terrorism from spreading.

 
 Lloyd O. Pierson lived in Africa for over seven years and has literally been in thousands of villages throughout the Continent.  He has headed two U.S. Government agencies, and was named to senior administrative positions by three U.S. Presidents.  He was nominated by President George W. Bush as the Assistant Administrator for Africa at USAID and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  He remains very active on Africa issues.

Pith Helmets, Lions and the Reality of Africa

By Lloyd O. Pierson ; Senior International Adviser for USASEF

         Readers expecting to visualize the Africa of Abbot and Costello, of Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, or picturing pith helmets and charging lions are going to be disappointed.  This is about an Africa that many don't see and this is the reality of why the United States should increase its focus on the sub-Sahara area of the Africa Continent from South Africa to Senegal and the Sahel area from Mauritania to Somalia.  Much of Africa has a vibrant economy and a number of foreign nations , including China,,Brazil, France, Portugal and India, are providing foreign assistance as well as multiplying trade and investment.  While the United States focus on Africa has increased , particularly under the leadership and guidance of former President George W. Bush, the U.S. has still not reached a cognitive level that Africa is a potential dynamo for American economic development. Every Member of Congress should be aware of the present and future in Africa. 

          America is getting there.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made several successful trips and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Ambassador Johnnie Carson, who was formerly the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya, has enormous well earned respect and repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Africa in global affairs.  About the only thing many Americans know about Africa is the textbook description as the "dark continent" and television images of drought and war.  There is , however, a lot more and it is important to recognize what is the meaning of more and why it makes a difference to those living in America.  Africa can mean jobs for Americans.

          First, there is a a strong emotional attachment for many African Americans who trace their lineage to various African countries.  While most have not been to Africa, despite a desire to travel there, the umbilical with their genealogical birth line remains.  Although under different

circumstances, Africa is as much a part of U.S. history as Europe.  Africa itself has some of the world's great thinkers, and businessmen (Tony Elumelu from Nigeria, Tewolde GebreMarian from Ethiopia, Geoff Rothschild from South Africa and Admassu Tadesse  based in South Africa )were recently cited by the Corporate Council on Africa) as well as a rich history of music and art.  There is outstanding leadership such as Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangrai in Zimbabwe, and President Blaise Campaore in Burkina Faso. There are First class, effective Ministers such as Minister of Finance Tendai Biti and Minister of Education David Coltart in Zimbabwe. The Africa Forum under the leadership of Dr. John Tesha is doing an outstanding job.  Second, Africa poses an enormous economic opportunity.  The GNP for most countries is on the rise and there is an increasing recognition that jobs and employment are the basis for stabilization and as a means to help keep the bad guys out.  In his 2005 inaugural speech, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia talked eloquently about the past struggles with apartheid and colonization in what was then Southwest Africa,  He spoke about the effort to overcome apartheid, the courage that had been shown, and the lives lost and destroyed.  But he said it was now a new day and economic development had to be the priority throughout Africa. 

        
         It used to be pointed out that rusting cranes on top of half finished buildings was a hallmark of African architecture, but no more.  Skylines all across Africa are booming and even in many rural areas, such as Maun and Ghanzi in Botswana, Boike in Benin, and even the isolated Lodwar in northern Kenya is showing signs of development life.  There is a wonderful spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa, in some instances it may be just a matter of survival, but with U.S. help take a look at what the Tuaregs are doing around Agadez in Niger; the San in Namibia and Botswana, and the Turkana in Kenya.  Despite a failed state, Somalia reportedly has the highest per capita use of cell phones in the world. The "winds of change" that earlier marked the ending of the cold war and of apartheid are now blowing in the direction of the private sector and economic development.  Florie Liser, the United States Trade Representative often quotes the Blair Report estimating that a one percent increase in Africa trade would generate over $70 billion in revenue -- nearly three times the current foreign development assistance.  Africa's vast hydrocarbon and mineral resources currently form the basis for most U.S. imports, but as a result of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other efforts, the trade activity in other sectors is increasing.

         In addition to the heritage and economic development, Africa's environment needs to be elevated in terms of U.S. foreign policy and assistance.  Almost all are knowledgeable that the largest rain forest in the world is the Amazon, but how many can name the second largest and second most important.  The answer is the Congo River Basin, a vast area encompassing borders with eight different African countries.  Beset by internal conflicts, bush meat and exotic animal hunters, and timber companies, a lot of the area resources are being depleted.  Efforts and collaboration are being made to control the depletion, but not enough.  There is barely any public attention to the second largest rain forest in  the world.

         Parallel, however, to the optimistic view of Africa, there are events occurring that will impact the Continent and threaten the national security of the United States.  The rise of Islamic fundamentalism poses a threat to many countries as there have already been U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and Boko Haran actions in Abuja, Jos, and Kano in Nigeria.  U.S. military activity under the command of Africom and the large, and getting larger U.S. base Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti speak to the need of American armed forces presence.  The takeover of the northern Mali area from Timbuctu to Gao and impending military intervention by ECOWAS and other forces is as significant a development as has occurred in years.  The recent front page lead article by the Wall Street Journal entitled, "Terror Fight Shifts to Africa" points out many of the identical concerns that the U.S. has had in Afghanistan and Iraq.

         
        Still burdened by conflicts, extremely high unemployment rates among youth, corrupt officials, severe droughts, and poor infrastructure, there remain many challenges in Africa.  The reality of Africa is that there are many opportunities for the United States and the Continent can no longer be an afterthought for policymakers.

Lloyd O. Pierson is Senior International Adviser for the United States Africa Sports and Education Foundation.   He has headed two U.S. Government agencies, been appointed to senior Administration positions by three U.S. Presidents, and was nominated by President George W. Bush as the Administrator for Africa at the United States Agency for International Development.  He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.