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The continuing vicious conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), originally a subordinate paramilitary group, is a contest over power and licence to plunder. Though it is deadlier and affects a larger area, it is nevertheless reminiscent of the battles over turf and territory between rival criminal gangs in Haiti and antagonistic drug trafficking … Continue reading
Avarice triumphs. Military officers in Africa and Asia resent civilian leaders. They absolutely fear giving up their power and privilege but, even more, they refuse to let civilians interfere with their lucrative grip on a wide range of moneymaking enterprises. In Myanmar (formerly Burma), in Sri Lanka, in Pakistan, in Egypt, and now in Sudan … Continue reading
When economically challenged rulers try to run nations, especially fragile ones, they easily make mistakes. Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Khartoum and Omdurman for weeks to protest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s removal of subsidies that have long kept bread and fuel affordable. They seek his ouster. Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan insists on … Continue reading
China surprised President Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Sept. 28 by promising to create an 8,000 strong standby peacekeeping brigade for use on the African Continent. President Xi Jinping also committed $100 million over the next five years to the African Union (AU) for assistance in establishing a crisis response African standby … Continue reading
As China goes, so goes Africa. If the Chinese economy continues to cool, the raw material and commodity exporters of Africa will suffer correspondingly. Neither American nor European buyers will be able to replace Chinese purchases. Two surveys released in early April revealed that China’s manufacturers are struggling to maintain their accustomed high levels of … Continue reading
Africa and Asia: The Key Issues 