Page 228 - Volume 1_Go home mzungu Go Home_merged with links

ɡ

st
21 century m'zuŋ u ‘neo-colonialism’

Control through Dependency
By contrast the only constant associated with the UK is a political elite that is always
at war with itself. Its a country whose help will be welcomed in African nations. But not
much more.

Many people focus on China's rule by a single autocratic party. What many overlook
is that whilst China has its own problems of elitism, cronyism and corruption, the efficiency

of China's governance is significantly enhanced because by the time those in power reach
the top, they will have spent a lifetime acquiring experience.

As the thinking behind FCDO demonstrates, the UK will scramble around Africa

'looking for business', using a long, out-of-date approach to diplomacy and aid. And with

the UK ever seen (tarnished) as being a USA proxy, the effectiveness of UK diplomatic power
(including that part tied to UK Aid) will diminish in line with the decline in the leverage wielded by
the USA.

*****
The New Colonialism: Britain's scramble for Africa's energy and mineral resources

The report reveals the degree to which British companies now control Africa's key
mineral resources, notably gold, platinum, diamonds, copper, oil, gas and coal. It
documents how 101 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) - most of

them British - have mining operations in 37 sub-Saharan African countries. They
collectively control over $1 trillion worth of Africa's most valuable resources. The UK

government has used its power and influence to ensure that British mining companies
have access to Africa's raw materials. This was the case during the colonial period and is
still the case today.

"The New Colonialism: Britain's Scramble for Africa's Energy and Mineral Resources," 222
War on Want. (July 2016)
***** ***** *****
Arab States
The comparative novelty in modern times of Arab states building a presence in parts of

East Africa has given rise to some excited media coverage. Unnecessarily so. For the

moment.
At this time Arab States’ involvement in parts of East Africa should mainly be seen

as an extension of their own regional power conflicts. Civil war in Yemen. Rivalry for

supremacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Increasing risks of domestic political