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~ Exploring African affairs and cultural events in the DMV

Africa in DC

Tag Archives: African Arguments

Silly Sights for South Sudan from a Beltway Bandit

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, DC Corridors of Power

≈ 1 Comment

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African Arguments, African Independence, Belgian Congo, cold war in Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, Hank Cohen, Herman Cohen, namibia, South Sudan, UN Congo, UN Trusteeship, White Man's Burden

A recent appeal on the online blogging forum African Arguments (a site I greatly enjoy) from the former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Hank Cohen, for UN trusteeship of South Sudan has really set me off.  The piece epitomizes the narrative of Africa as a dangerous locale for exciting adventures in which the white man can nobly shoulder the weight of his burden, rather than illustrating the more hopeful economic narratives of Africa that are becoming more predominant in many corners (although those could also have the potential to set me off). Continue reading →

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Obama’s Africa Legacy #2: Nationalism and Electricity

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, DC Corridors of Power, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Africa energy gap, Africa energy poverty, Africa is a Country, African Arguments, Liberia electricity, MCC, Obama Africa electricity, Power Africa Initiative, Todd Moss, USAID

Todd Moss of the Center for Global Development must be ecstatic with joy.  After opining that Obama should make electricity his “signature development achievement” in Africa, Obama has announced a Power Africa Initiative that does just that during his recent Africa trip.

Power Africa focuses on 5 Anglophone African countries and Ethiopia.  Amazingly, the group includes Liberia, where the US Ambassador went on record less than a year ago as stating that electricity was ‘not a priority’ for her Embassy. After emphasizing US values and human development, does this marked shift to infrastructure development reflect the stunning success of Moss’ op-ed or is it a concerted effort to enrich US companies and counter Chinese influence on the continent?

Several major Africanist media outlets, including African Arguments and Africa is a Country have cautionary pieces on Obama’s announcement (‘With President Obama’s new initiative, this [energy provision] can increase by roughly 18 more minutes if implementation was perfect’).  Devoted Africa in DC readers may recall my three point rebuttal to Moss back in February.  I stand by it for the most part.  While much needed, I’m doubtful that in the long run, US private sector engagement in the provision of electricity to Africa is helpful for the continent (after all, I remember my grandmother telling me that light bulb technology in this country was purposely degraded for decades so that companies would be able to move more product, true or not, I think that’s meaningful). However, it is good to see various US government agencies, from USAID to MCC collaborating on the initiative.

We don’t allow Muslims to run American ports – I wonder what Africans will think of private American companies making money from providing them with electricity?

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