Analysis

By Scott A Morgan

It has been announced that the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be making a rare trip to Africa in Early December. This is just the latest Effort by the Administration to restore both its Credibility and Image since the Invasion of Iraq in 2003. And recent events are indicative of how Africa is a focus in the Strategic Planning in Washington.

The purpose of the visit is to attend a summit of the Great Lakes States ( Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi). The main issue of the discussions will be regional Peace and Security Issues. In recent Months there have both Violent Clashes in the Eastern Part of the Congo and Peace Talks have taken place between the Ugandan Government and the Main Insurgent Force the Lord's Resistance Army. There are also concerns about rising Instability within Burundi as well.

Recently President Kabila of the DRC was in Washington trying to garner US assistance to rein in the Rebellious General Nkunda. The terms for US Training of a Rapid Reaction Force have yet to be finalized at this time but it could be expected to be announced at the summit. Currently a small number of Officers are currently trained by the United States. The terms of the deals are expected to include expanding the training to Non-Commissioned Officers as well. Uganda has received kudos from the US for sending troops to support the AU (African Union) Mission in Somalia.

Recently two NGOs reported concerns over how victims of Rape have been treated in the region. The number of Women who have been abused in the region over the last decade has to be in the Millions. The Violence against Women was not only widespread in the Rwandan Genocide and the Fighting in the Congo but was used as a tactic to destroy the morale of their enemies. One question that deserves to be asked is will the regional Actors actually discuss this issue?

Another issue that will be a sidebar during the trip is Counterterrorism. During the Trip the US will be discussing the issue with the Ethiopian Government. Ethiopia invaded Somalia last year to prop up a weak Internationally backed Transitional Government there. It will be replaced by a Force comprised of African Union Troops. But the speed with which the allocated Forces are arriving is tedious at best. There have been concerns within Washington over the Situation in the Ogaden as well. So this part of the meeting will be interesting to here about as well.

There are a couple of questions that could be asked here. First is will the World finally learn about the Status of Vincent Otti the number 2 man for the LRA? Rumors are rampant that he died back in October. Second and probably more crucial what new Peace Initiative will the US Present to stabilize the region? After more than a decade of war Peace is hanging on by a thread in several place right now. So Madam Secretary what will you do to restore the Image of the US?

The Author has launched a New Webzine about US Policy towards Africa called Confused Eagle. It can be found at morganrights.tripod.com

Source: Somaliland Times