What Does Susan Rice’s Appointment as National Security Adviser Mean for Africa?

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African democracy, Bill Clinton Africa, Cold War Africa, Howard French, mali and us national security, National Security Adviser, NSA, Rice Zimbabwe thesis, State Department Africa, Susan Rice, Susan Rice Afric, USA ICC Africa

My suspicion is that it means bad news.  Howard French has eloquently written of Rice’s unwavering support for the crop of autocratic nationalist African leaders that emerged at the end of the Cold War.  Frequent readers of Africa in DC will be familiar with my railings against the administrations in Burkina Faso and Uganda, which are composed of autocrats who came to power through force and continue to enjoy US support more than a quarter century after assuming power.

While I know nothing of Thomas Donilon, the current incumbent in the position, cursory research reveals nothing about his African connections.  Conversely, Susan Rice wrote her PhD about Zimbabwe’s transition to majority rule in 1979 and 1980 – not the most original topic, and was engaged in African affairs in several roles during Bill Clinton’s presidency.  At the age of just 33, she became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.  I suspect her spectacularly meteoric rise has gravely weakened her ability to remain grounded and in touch with the citizenry that a diplomat is meant to support.

With the announcement of financial rewards for the capture of several key west African Islamic militants, the ongoing crisis in Mali, and the rather precipitous collapse of Nigeria, America’s most prominent African ally, the National Security Adviser should be positioned to make prominent contributions to US Africa policy.  I suspect that Rice, despite her strong African credentials, will continue with more of the same African policy that has dominated America since the Clinton years: Dictators who manage to manipulate the language of democracy will be embraced, the United Nations will be expected to handle major African conflicts, Francophone Africa will continue to be ignored and we will defer to France on all major security issues in that region, and the US’ hypocritical relationship with the ICC will continue and cause our relations with Kenya to weaken.

What do you think the announcement means?

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US National Security Consulting Firms and the French Intervention in Mali

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AFISMA, French US cooperationin Mali, IDS International in West Africa, mali and us national security, Mali terrorism, US Defense contractors in Mali, US military engagement in Mali

Not to further publicize this job opportunity, but it is interesting to note that IDS International, an Arlington-based national security consulting firm, is “searching for French-speaking candidates to fill an immediate requirement for trainers in support of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA). Deployments will be to several different Francophone countries in West Africa.”

Interesting to see that the French intervention in Mali is already leading to increased opportunities for the ‘national security’ consulting industry.  I’d be curious to know where the money is coming from for this.