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Africa at large: The new scramble for Africa
Alexactus T. Kaure, The Namibian
September 15, 2008

http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=19033

Africa is on the threshold of being re-colonized. This process will, however, differ from the one that followed the Berlin Conference in the 18th century when the continent was divided among the European powers. There will be no guns and the Bible to pacify and subdue the natives. This time it will be decided in boardrooms using the dollar and wine. It will also be different because there will be no resistance and revolts as Africans will be active participants in this process of re-colonization of their continent. And by Africans here I refer specifically to the comprador class - the African ruling elite.

This new scramble for Africa, unlike the old, is not interested in redefining national borders but the continent's national resources - oil, diamonds, timber, gold, uranium, ivory, natural gas, you name it. Th us, in addition to the former colonisers who have maintained their presence on the continent through a host of multi- and trans-national corporations after we gained our quasi-statehood, two new kids on the block are joining the scramble - China and India. Two of Asia's biggest economies, each with a billion-plus population, and which are fast industrializing and developing. And they badly need resources to keep the wheels of industry rolling.

Most of these resources are here in Africa. This is not to say that other continents don't have them; it's just that people in other countries have found better ways of turning resources into consumable products and they have understood the importance of resource nationalism. We have not done so, despite all the talk about value addition. For example, what value are we adding by polishing diamonds? Except that you are employing a few locals while the real value addition is done in other world capitals like Tel Aviv, Antwerp or New Delhi.

The irony is that while Africa's significance on the global market is minimal in terms of production and its very position in the world is precarious and contested, it is at the same time the supplier of the resources needed to make the global economy move. The other irony is that despite the continent's abundant resources, Africa is the leading beggar continent in the world. Every generation of Africans is socialized into a begging mentality. Just listen to African leaders at many of their conferences how they complain about not getting enough money from the so-called rich or industrialized nations.

African leaders have become allies of external agencies. I remember, for example, how Lev Leviev Diamonds (LLD) was paraded here in Windhoek by our Government as a saviour which would bring the benefits of our diamonds back to Namibians. But the strangest development has been the active encouragement of Chinese immigration to Namibia. Chinese have now replaced Namibian constructors and builders, even to build some of the most basic of structures. They get preference over the locals when it comes to Government tenders and contracts.

It is said that the Chinese don't put any conditionality in their economic relationships with Africans. Take the case of Sudan where China is supporting the Sudanese government fighting the uprising in Darfur as long as China has access to its oil. There is a total convergence of interests in this process of re-colonisation. Foreigners badly need the continent's resources and African leaders badly need the money at all costs and are thus ready to enter into a deal at virtually any cost.

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