Just why is Somalia so important to the US ? Not only did the US support the recent military incursions into that country, but it spent 92- million in humanitarian assistance to it in 2006.

Second opinion: The oil-rich, unstable Horn of Africa should invite more than self-interested dabbling, says Iqbal Jhazbhay

by Iqbal Jhazbhay

18 February 2007 - US Ambassador Eric Bost, on this page last week, admitted that, in helping Africa, "we are most certainly helping ourselves". He failed, however, to elaborate about what motivates the concerted attention to the Horn of Africa.

Officially, the US has been concerned about al-Qaeda's presence in Africa, China's developing relations with the continent and the fact that, until recently, Mogadishu was ruled by Islamists.

South Africa has shown caution about becoming involved in Somalia within the context of the US war on terrorism. Its approach to "the war on terror" emphasises dialogue and painstaking engagement, as opposed to forceful military interventions, which can only further inflame the region.

Against this backdrop, South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota did not hesitate this week to say it would be better for the US not to involve itself in Somalia. He did not consider it helpful to bring into Somalia countries "with historical baggage" and "whose motives may be questioned".

What Ambassador Bost fails to acknowledge is that the Union of Islamic Courts, which ran most of southern Somalia from July to December last year, disbanded its structures and gave way to the external armed forces. It retreated, and is not defeated.

The US, and its allies' stress on "celebrating" the demise of genuine and perceived adversaries is not a good political approach. Best practices in many parts of the world, including South Africa, show that "adversaries" are better engaged above ground. Underground, in ways similar to Baghdad, they are a genuine threat to world security. Some good signs have emerged: the US ambassador to Kenya has been in dialogue with the former head of the Islamic Courts' executive council.

Unless the international community, including the US, exhibits the political will to invest positively, via the African Union and the United Nations, in the stabilisation of Somalia, any suggestions that South Africa should take the lead in stabilising Somalia cannot be taken seriously. Dabbling should not be an option, and serious efforts are required via the UN Security Council to affirm the importance of respecting the northern home-grown stability of Somaliland and of making progress towards a solution of the unresolved issue of Somaliland's international status .

While there is no doubt that the US response to Somalia fits into its overall view of the threat of terrorism influencing so much of its present foreign policy, this does not tell the whole story.

It is an open secret that US oil giants are sitting on concessions, expecting to reap huge windfalls from massive resources of both oil and gas in southern Somalia and the peaceful northern Somaliland.

Oil companies Conoco, Chevron, Amoco and Phillips have concessions in nearly two-thirds of Somalia. These contracts were granted during the final days of Somalia's deposed dictator, Siad Barre. The US's 1992 military engagement in Somalia was fully supported by Conoco.

South Africa is also not without its own complications. Mvelaphanda, led by businessman Tokyo Sexwale, has also obtained an oil concession in Somaliland.

As with Iraq in 2003, the US has cast this war as a war to curtail terrorism, but its real goal is to obtain a direct foothold in the region by establishing a client state there.

The Horn of Africa is newly oil-rich, and is of great interest since it lies just kilometres from Saudi Arabia, overlooking the daily passage of large numbers of oil tankers and warships through the Red Sea.

The US gets 10% of its oil from Africa and may need to rely on the continent for as much as 25% by 2010.

The recent establishment of a US military command, Africom, has to be considered against this background and should be of real concern to Africans committed to constructing a different kind of future for our continent. Our approach on this is both a matter of profound self-interest and an issue about the humanity of our own outlook.

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Insight/Article.aspx?id=388689

Jhazbhay lectures at the University of South Africa and serves on the ANC's Commission for Religious Affairs

Source: Sunday Times