Is Central Africa now in the Crosshairs of the United States?

by Scott A Morgan
To put it Bluntly AFRICOM has been a contentious Issue in Washington. Some Advocates have had concerns that was a Militarization of this segment of Foreign Policy. It also has shown however the lack of Interest that the State Department has had in African Issues.

Two areas of criticism have been the Policy of the United States when it comes to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the US Role in Operation Lightning Thunder. First of all the US has had an interesting History when it comes to the DRC. We know how Mobutu stole Millions of Dollars of Aid and was brutal to his Opposition. His Death coming soon after the Rwandan Genocide has left Millions in the region dead or homeless.

The Rule of Joseph Mobutu is not the only way that the Congo has been brutallized. The Country is Abundantly Rich in Natural Resources. Sadly what should be a blessing and filling the coffers of the Country with Money is not doing so. Instead there several Warlords who despite the efforts of a Government in Kinshasa and the United Nations have set up their own little fiefdoms. They are the ones who are using the Resources to get rich.

So in this train of thought Legislation has been introduced by the US Senate to deal with. This Bill called the Congo Conflict Minerals Act will bring the Power of the US to do the following:

Have the US support the efforts of the UN Group of Experts,mapping out which Militias control what mines that produce Gold, Coltan, Casserite (Tin Ore) and Wolframite (Tungsten Source) in the Eastern DRC, Developing a Coherent US Strategy to Deal with this situation and include how this trade actually impacts the Human Rights Climate.

The timing of this Legislation is crucial. It comes in the Light of not one but two controverisal and failed Military Efforts to rein in Militias that control vast areas of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In recent Days OXFAM a UK based NGO released a Report which stated that the Mission by FARDC and the Rwandan Military actually made the situation in the Kivu Provinces worse than when the initial Operation began.

When Operation Lightning Thunder ended it was clear that at some point Action could be renewed. Already there has been a call for a renewal of this effort with Greater US Support. Any US Effort probably would be limited to logistical support,planning or even tactical Air Support. It is unlikely that Ground Forces could be introduced into this equation. However if any are they would probably be Special Forces or Airborne Elements. At this juncture the possibility of American Forces on the Ground is remote.

In what has to be an interesting development the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) head for Human Intelligence is in the Region. In a Visit that will see the Director visit Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to expand his understanding of Africa. As the DIA is the body responsible for the Actions of the US Military Attaches' in these Countries the Criteria could be laid out for what support the US could take if it is needed to take Military Action. The Director will also learn about the support that the US Provides for the Darfur Peacekeeping Mission, The Stability of Kenya, The Situation in the DRC and Piracy in Somalia.

It cannot be denied that the United States is taking a new interest in Central Africa. Peacekeeping is a crucial role at this time. The Missions in Darfur and in the Congo are in crisis Situations. The Voices calling for the US to take an Increased Role in Central Africa may have been heard. But there is an old proverb that states "Be careful what you wish for, You Might Just Get it."