US seeks new African peace force

[gottaB]

United States officials have outlined plans to train and equip more than 50,000 peacekeepers over the next five years, mostly for deployment in Africa.

The idea is expected to be announced at the Group of Eight (G8) summit of the world's richest countries in the US.

The initiative had grown out of African requests for assistance in ending civil wars, the officials said.

US seeks new African peace force....


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Related: African Security Council launched and hailed

[klook]

1. African oil

Of course the Bush administration doesn't give a damn about the people of Africa. The real story was detailed a year ago in this Guardian article:

Scramble for Africa
Fear of corruption and chaos in oil rush
Charlotte Denny, economics correspondent
Tuesday June 17, 2003
The Guardian

Washington's determination to find an alternative energy source to the Middle East is leading to a new oil rush in sub-Saharan Africa which threatens to launch a fresh cycle of conflict, corruption and environmental degradation in the region, campaigners warn today.

The new scramble for Africa risks bringing more misery to the continent's impoverished citizens as western oil companies pour billions of dollars in secret payments into government coffers throughout the continent. Much of the money ends up in the hands of ruling elites or is squandered on grandiose projects and the military.
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