British Prime Minister Tony Blair has completed his four-nation tour of Africa. He warned that the West could face a new terrorist threat unless major steps were taken to reduce Africa’s poverty. Speaking to newsmen before leaving London, he said that Africa could produce another international problem such as Afghanistan.
Blair’s top priority during his tour was an African initiative to help the world’s poorest continent. African analysts, however, look for actions to back up Blair’s fine words. Many still remember that Blair made similar pledges during his election campaign last year.
Since the end of the Cold War, African leaders have felt neglected by the rest of the world. The dramatic changes underway in post-Cold War Africa have presented unprecedented opportunities and obstacles. Africans have been seeking both economic progress and democracy. Beset by ethnic tensions, economic decline and new threats from AIDS epidemic, Africans have increasingly looked to London for assistance.
Moreover, Africa’s global political role is out of proportion to its economic or military strength. In a world increasingly receptive to collective security, Africa accounts for one-third of UN members and holds three of the non-permanent Security Council seats. Within Africa and internationally, Britain’s willingness to promote peaceful conflict resolution is widely viewed as an indicator of London’s foreign policy.
On the other hand, Africa’s mineral wealth and its potential as a market for G-8 countries would guarantee strong Western involvement. This is the reason that Britain has initiated a development plan aimed at combating poverty in Africa. The plan will be promoted at the June G-8 summit in Canada.
In pursuit of these British interests, many commentators say that the trip showed London’s desire to be engaged with Africa. And the Blair government is well-aware of the consequences of Africa’s problems — the unchecked spread of AIDS, endless wars, shattered economies and how to promote democracy. Obviously, the African AIDS crisis is one of the greatest disasters unfolding anywhere. An estimated 70 percent of all HIV-infected people are in sub-Saharan Africa. That is why some developed countries have pledged to increase their funding for global AIDS programs. The number of deaths from AIDS, especially among young adults, has adverse effects on economic, political and stability. At the same time, millions of people have starved, died or been wounded in African conflicts during the last few years.
Although, Blair has been careful not to promise too much, some analysts insist that British assistance should focus on HIV prevention programs, investment, good governance and conflict resolution. They also believe that if Africa gets adequate financial backing from the West, it will provide stability not only for itself but also for the whole world. In its efforts to resolve conflicts in Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Somalia, Sudan and Central Africa, Britain has had success in Sierra Leone after sending troops there. Sierra Leone’s rebel factions have been disarmed by British and other UN peacekeepers, paving the way for elections in May. But, Britain’s close ally, the United States, has made clear that it will continue to avoid direct military involvement in African disputes.
It thus seems that London will help African countries when they act to establish peace, and create their own peacemaking and peacekeeping mechanisms. Some experts insist that African forces would offer a less costly alternative to UN operations worldwide.
