A Week that Washington Pays Attention to Africa?

When it comes to Foreign Policy Meetings in Washington more often than not they generally focus on either Iraq or the Af/Pak theatre. Very rarely do these meetings focus on events that are affecting Africa. But this week it appears that Africa will be the Focus at the White House.

Two key African Allies will be coming to the United States this week. They are the Presidents of Nigeria and Gabon. Both are Key International Petroleum exporters. Both also sit on one of the key Trouble spots in the World the Gulf of Guinea and both have Internal Issues as well.

The first visitor President Johnathan of Nigeria was recently reelected President. Internally He faces two insurgencies one by a Radical Islamic Sect in the North that reportedly has ties to Al-Qaida. The Second one is in the Niger Delta. This just happens to be the Main Oil Producing Region of Nigeria. Previous Military and Civilian Administrations have not made any improvements to the infrastructure of the region. Therefore any wealth generated by Oil does not return to the region and those who live in the region and are affected by this are not pleased.

Traditionally the US and Nigeria have had good relations. In fact the US was going to support any action that President Johnathan was going to authorize in Ivory Coast in his position as head of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). Now that President Ouattara has taken the Oath of President in Ivory Coast It is expected that President Obama will receive a briefing about the State of Affairs in that Country.

One thing that needs to happen is for the President to inquire about what ECOWAS plans to do in Burkina Faso. While the Situation in Ivory Coast slid towards Civil War a series of events occurred in its Northern Neighbor that were ignored due to the Coverage of the Ivorian Crisis. These events included a Mutiny by the Army and Student Protests. There has been no resolution to this situation at this juncture.

The other visitor will be President Ali Bongo of Gabon. This Country which lies at the Southern end of the Gulf of Guinea has had an interesting turn of Events. After the Death of President Omar Bongo in 2009 Elections were held to replace the late President. One of the Candidates Andre Mba Obame earlier this year declared himself to be President of Gabon. He has reportedly south Refuge at a Foreign Embassy in the Capital of Libreville.

The legitimacy of this Administration in Libreville and the Health and Welfare of Mr. Obame are two topics that need to be discussed at the White House this week. But there is another topic that will affect both Gabon and Nigeria that the Mainstream Media has overlooked.

Elections are scheduled to take place in Cameroon this year. The Opposition in the Country believe that this is their best chance to unseat the current incumbent Paul Biya. There are several ways that both Countries could be affected by any Post-Election Violence that occurs in Cameroon. First of all there probably will be Refugees fleeing to both Countries. Second they could become the locations of potential Government-in-Exile or even Insurgent Groups.

So if creating Stability and or Regional Harmony is a goal of this Administration than this week could be week that foundations are laid. Then it will give the appearance that the US was not caught flat-footed like it was when the Revolutions occurred in Tunisia and Egypt. We know that this Administration is very keen on the Nuance of Actions.

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