Bush-Kabila-Powell initiative on the Congo good signal for U.S-Africa relations

Special to USAfricaonline.com
and USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston

To capture the overall picture of the dynamic at play, the Bush-Powell initiative is significant first step when I recall Thomas Pakenham's haunting words in his epic book, The Scramble for Africa, "when the Belgians scuttled out of the Congo in July, 1960, they had left the country well prepared for civil war and anarchy."

First, as the world's most preeminent statesman and former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela said a few days ago, the unfortunate assassination of the senior Kabila offers a chance to rebuild Congo, stabilize the region and make peace.

Second, why is this important? The world is facing the specter of an impending, but avoidable reality that one of Africa's largest countries could implode and dismember in a couple of months. If the Congo disintegrates, the entire central Africa region, its neighboring 8 countries and major parts of southern Africa region will face catastrophic human and geopolitical complications. David Kilgour, Canada's secretary of state for Africa said recently that the Congo "is the center of gravity in Africa.... If things spin out of control here, who knows how many countries will be sucked into the whirlpool." To be sure, it will impact Uganda, the other Congo, Rwanda, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and in part, South Africa; since the Congo's 51 million long-embattled citizens made up of 20 significant ethnic groups will, more than likely, vote with their feet.

Third, we should look at the events regarding the Congo from what I may call the show-me-the money foundations of international relations and diplomacy. Those would have, in part, compelled Bush's interest and rethink on Africa. Congo has abundant resources such as cobalt, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, copper, cadmium,, zinc, manganese, tin, iron ore, coal, timber and the luxuriant Congo River. Houston-based and other U.S. corporations are doing business inside and around the Congo's minerals rich fields. Congo has since 1938 captured the interests of rapacious Belgian colonialist, and the modern-day American and European corporations.

Fourth, it shows, however modest the steps, that Bush is open to learn about the realities of U.S. and Africa interests. The man did not allow pride or preconceived notions to halt an opportunity to open new doors into Africa rather than abandon the Congo, as the economic predators from colonial Belgium did.

Fifth, it validates my view the fact that Bush's international relations team lead by Colin Powell, an Africa-American of Caribbean roots, and Prof. Condoleezza Rice, another African-American, are not tokenist fixtures at the Department of State and National Security but professionals who seem capable of rising to the dynamics of a rapidly changing world. As I argued on December 18, 2000 on the Houston Chronicle Outlook page in a commentary titled 'Choice of Powell puts Africa on Bush's map', Powell is familiar with the African continent, and that most persons of African descent are hopeful that Powell will, as he has done in the past, elevate the issues that are important for his community and ancestry -- all within the global material interests of the U.S.

Finally, as a realistic advocate for Africa in the U.S., and as a student of international economic relations, I commend the Bush-Powell initiative on war-torn Congo as timely, appropriate and a clear signal of support for the reconstruction of the structures of peace and business in the region.

Recall that I had on CNN after the presidential elections criticized candidate Bush's ill-advised November 2000 pre-election view that Africa will not be an area of priority under his presidency. Hence, it is heartwarming that after his election as President, Bush's first major meeting with any leader of another country will be with a very young leader from Africa, the long-suffering, embattled continent, and heritage home for almost 32 million Blacks in America. With this latest move, Bush continues to surprise many; gradually but positively.

Essentially, it needs to be noted that Bush, Kabila and Powell are acting in the economic, humanitarian and political interests of our two continents since neither the U.S. nor countries in Africa act as charity organizations but as entities seeking their immediate financial values, medium and strategic interests. A stable Congo is good business for the U.S., Congolese and African businesses.
Nwangwu, an adviser to the Mayor of Houston on international business (Africa) serves as the Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the Internet USAfricaonline.com. He is the recipient of the Journalism Excellence Award, HABJ 1997, covered President Bill Clinton's visit to parts of Africa,March -April, 1998, and to Nigeria in August 2000. He is the publisher of The Black Business Journal, BBJonline.com, USAfrica The Newspaper, and NigeriaCentral.com Copyright©January 30, 2001. USAfrica Digital Media Networks

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