New Diplomatic Efforts in Africa

12 June 2011

Scott A Morgan 

Within the last few weeks the State Department has been making all efforts in the Diplomatic Realm regarding two Crisis Spots that are on the verge of spiraling out of control. 

Within the last week Secretary of State Clinton held talks at the AGOA Summit in Lusaka, Zambia with the Foreign Minister of Chad Mr. Moussa Faki. The topics of these talks focused on the Deterioration of the situations in both Libya and in Sudan. The Foreign Minister informed his American counterpart of the actions that his Country is currently taking. 

Chad has a violent past history with Libya. During the 1980s Libya invaded Chad in an effort to create an Empire for Col. Qadaffi. At one point the Aouzou Strip and the Town of Faya Largou were prominent during American Newscasts as the fighting raged on. The United States and France supported then President Hissen Habre with Arms, Material and even Troops when it was deemed necessary. President Habre would be later overthrown by the Current President Mr. Deby. There are now reports that the Libyan Government has been recruiting Fighters in Chad as well. 

It should be noted that Chad is one of the Countries in the Sahel Region that has seen an influx of Refugees since the uprising against Col. Qadaffi began earlier this year. So it is by no means a stretch of the imagination to learn that the Government of Chad would like to see a Change of Government in Tripoli. Foreign Minister Faki also told Secretary Clinton that they wish to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Libya and a removal of Col Qadaffi. 

What is interesting is the situation in Sudan. Before the Referendum on Independence for Southern Sudan took place the Government of President Deby came out against it. They feared that Rebels operating in the Southeastern part of the Country would agitate and advocate for a similar deal themselves. The Chadian Army has been conducting Joint Patrols with the Sudanese Army in an effort to control cross-border violence in the long suffering region of Darfur. 

Foreign Minister Faki has been meeting with the leaders in both Khartoum and in Juba to bring apart an end of the violence. In recent days the Sudanese Air Force has launched a series of Air Strikes against the South. Now the Government of the South has asked for Foreign Intervention to help defend against the Air Strikes. The Obama Administration should take this request seriously. The US along with Britain and Norway comprise the Troika which are supposed to ensure that the transition to Two Sudanese States occur peacefully. Clearly the US needs to address this situation. But what action that will be taken by the US is yet to be seen. There is a more legitimate cause for Intervention in Sudan then there was for Libya. 

Another case of US Diplomacy under the Radar has to be the Mission in May to Equatorial Guinea. The Deputy Undersecretary of State for African Affairs Susan Page met with Government Officials and the two main Opposition Parties the Convergence for Social Democracy and the Popular Union. 

The Undersecretary stated that there would be no change in the Policy of the Administration towards Equatorial Guinea. However the Deputy Undersecretary did say that President Obiang needs to follow through with the Promises that He makes during his speeches. The Gulf of Guinea is a region that the US will have interest in. Mostly for the Petroleum that is in the region. The US imports 27% of its Oil from this region this means that there is a strategic interest in the region. 

The Author Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet. It can be found at confusedeagle.livejournal.com