Oil - the absolute war on and in Africa

OIL – the absolute War on and in Africa

By: Mihlali Gqada


The world’s addiction to crude is the launch the ‘long war’. The prism of oil is a danger to liberty, democracy and stability in Africa and free markets around the world. The exodus of this fuel lies in its wealth which from its discovery on African lands has translated into increase poverty, wars and self indulging political authoritarians and despots. The paradox of the significance of oil as a treasure to the continent is undermined by its converse effects. This is largely due to the heinous mix of politics, mafia-style operations and immoral and infinite oil profits which subvert democratic and socio-economic reform in areas like Niger Delta, Congo, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Congo. The world is increasing addicted to oil and the big powers will scramble for it to doom. The riddle that will be unpacked is why has oil become a curse for Africa, not a blessing, leading to superior corruption, venal and evil and horror story for Africa.

When one delves into the scourge of oil evils and the murky depth of the business, there is macabre tale of insatiability, dishonesty and violence, brutality, aggression and sadism. The fantasy of oil saving African from its poverty must be dispelled as the role of oil is increasing the contrary. The oil paradox in Africa is “poverty from plenty” as noted by Nicholas Shaxson in his brilliant book, “Pin Poisoned Wells”.

Whilst the Chinese are exploring Ethopia (Sub-Saharan Africa) as a significant global producer of petroleum, China continues to slither itself into Africa from Zimbambwe to Sudan. Oil wealth in Africa is curse, when an oil bonanza is discovered in an African country, the instinctive assumption is that it can only be a good thing, it will result in rapid improvement in the lives of the people, there will be money for social development and everyone will be rich. On the contrary studies suggest that the GDP and population standards of living nearly always decline where oil is discovered. Between 1970 and 1993 countries without oil saw growth in their economies four times faster than those countries with oil. This as is refered to by Ghazvinian is “resource curse” and the disemboweling of a developing nation’s production, agricultural and general economic systems.

Like prostitutes always looking for client the United States while preparing for war in Iraq there was a quite offensive underway in Africa – in Gabon, Nigeria, Equitorial Guinea, Angola and Algeria, with offers of aid and stationed military advisors, while oil companies sealed new deals with the find – dressed in white collar suites in disguise in rescues while they are murderers. The US supported peace talks in Sudan early 2002, sent military equipment to Algeria and berated the country for its assistance to Pdvsa Venezuela’s oil company during the strike. It broke ground for a new US embassy in Luanda, Angola and pledged aid to help resettle UNITA rebles. It assisted Gabon establish the world’s largest forest preserve. It promised to reopen the US Consulate in Equatorial Guinea and to drop that country from its list of 14 Africa countries condemned for their violations of human rights while it leaned on Nigeria to leave OPEC – Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. And to consolidate its position and dubious measures it invited 10 central African countries to breakfast in the White House in September 2002.

When the al Qaeda was said to attack the US oil installations in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in December 2001, the US increases its military assistance to those countries. Oil revenue is often squandered and plundered by corrupt governments, in the Nigerian case, the average Nigerian is worse off today that he was 25 years ago, despise the countries $300 billion oil revenue generated since then. As an example its alleged that Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha took billions for himself. Oil has instead fueled civil wars in countries like Angola and Sudan. Oil and arms are inextricably linked to Africa where states are using oil revenue to fund arms purchases and oil wealth contributes to internal violence, the evidence is in civil wars in Angola, Chad, Congo Republic, Nigeria and Sudan.

Chad – the World Bank approved a $3.7 million loan to the Central African country in 2000 to construct an oil pipeline (by two US oil companies – ExxonMobil and Chevron) to transport oil through Cameroon to and Atlantic port. President Idriss Deby spent $4 million of the first payment of $25million on arms to fight insurgent forces – this prolonged Chad’s civil war.

Nigeria – under the rulership of General Sani Abacha, foreign capital bankrolled Nigeria’s petroleum industry with in turn supplied the military rulers with money to purchase arms – this lead to the repudiation of Nigeria’s foreign debt.

Sudan – oil has fueled ethnic cleansing. Interethnic rivalries and other human rights abuses. In 2001 Sudan spend 60% of its revenue on military purchases and to build a domestic arms industry.

This significant shift in US relations with Africa comes in the face of myriad threats: fierce economic competition from Asia; increasing resource nationalization in Russia and South America; and instability in the Middle East that threatens to spill over into Africa. America’s new African strategy reflects its key priorities in the Middle East; oil and counter terrorism.


From Me to you - Africa

Africa my friend
Do not despair
All evils meted on you by the wicked
Will on day see end
All the ache
Will one day ebb