US to set up drone base in West Africa
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How long ago October seems. Back then François Hollande promised that his country would provide “logistical support” in Mali, but no French combat troops would be sent to the West African nation. Since then we have received news of Malian civilians killed in a French air strikes, while French soldiers continue to advance on key towns.
Now, on the back of the Mali conflict, America is aggressively expanding its military presence in North West Africa. The New York Times reports that the United States is to set up a drone base in Niger. Though the immediate justification for this move is that it will support French operations in Mali, US officials quoted in the NYT suggest that the base will be maintained on a more permanent basis. For anybody who followed the mass slaughter of civilians in Pakistan, this is, to say the least, a worrying development.
The broader picture is that sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly reemerging as a region of strategic and geopolitical competition. On the one hand many countries are drifting into China’s sphere of influence, through diplomacy and foreign investment. Meanwhile, the spread of industrialisation means that we are seeing an intensification of competition for mineral resources – reflected by rocketing prices. Finally various African economies are emerging as important fields for foreign investment. Expect the invisible hand to be followed by the iron fist.
To contact Reuben email reuben@thethirdestate.net
Reader Comments
Out of interest, what source are you using for ‘mass slaughter of civilians in Pakistan’? Can you give a broad guesstimate of civilian casualties caused by drone strikes there?
I’m glad the French are clearly taking the Islamist threat to Africa seriously, and are prepared to help. And having the surveillance and strike capabilities of drones will be a great help, especially when dealing with the vastness of the Sahara.
I’m also keen to see more foreign investment in Africa. Investment is a mark of confidence in people, much more so than aid. Aid we expect to go and be spent, and not seen again. Investment we expect to be returned with interest, and that means you must have faith in the people you’re investing in, that they create enough wealth to not only return the initial capital, but also interest, and profit for themselves. And there’s so much potential in West Africa, I’m not surprised people are keen to invest.