While I certainly understand the constant focus on Iraq (and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan), many other parts of the world are burning.
Does anyone care? I do. And I hope you do too.
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers
Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful objects so familiar
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war
-William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
This is Part 2. For Part 1, see here.
All maps courtesy of the BBC.
Africa
Western Sahara - You might be forgiven if you thought colonialism no longer existed in the world.
Morocco has been occupying Western Sahara since 1975, making WS the last remaining colony on Earth. To combat the "separatist" group Polisario Front, Morocco built the world's largest earthern berm wall north of the capital, which also seals off people in the arid desert away from pasture land and denies them access to the ocean and towns.
Many Sahari people have been living in refugee camps in southwestern Algeria for decades, the nation which half-heartedly continues to supports the Polisario Front. Algeria's support for the PF has nearly led to several wars with Morocco and I note with extreme trepidation that Algeria has just signed a multi-billion dollar arms purchase agreement with Morocco.
In Morocco proper, the CIA has helped finance a large prison complex and Morocco is a regular destination for "extraordinarily rendered" detainees in the War on Terror.
Morocco has promised to hold a referendum in Western Sahara to determine its "final status" (independence or continued rule from Rabat) for the last 17 years but never quite gets around to doing it.
Despite all this, Morocco remains a Gold Star Member of the War on Terror and a staunch American ally. Morocco has a Free Trade Agreement with the US and is also a Major Non-NATO US Ally, making it eligible to purchase advanced weaponry.
Why Should You Care?
Morocco is in the top 3 list of countries which have violated United Nations Security Council Resolutions. In a better world, this might actually be considered an outrage.
Algeria - Besides support for the Polisario Front, Algeria has been fighting a brutal civil war since 1992, primarily against Islamic fundamentalists but also a brutal crackdown against the ethnic minority Berber people.
The good news is that long-time strongman president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has recently made strides for reconciliation, pardoning prisoners and offering immunity for Islamic fighters which agree to disarm. The bad news is that one Al-Qaeda linked group, the GSPC, continues to operate. Southern Algeria is also a major smuggling/trafficking point, where the government has little control and its troops have come under attack.
Why Should You Care?
I think it should be obvious by now that years of guerilla fighting by Islamic forces seeking to install a theocracy take those lessons learned and share them worldwide. Government brutality weeds out the more moderate voices and feeds the flames of extremism.
Egypt - Although it is a major tourist destination and the recipient of billions of dollars every year in American aid, few people know that Egypt has been under martial law since 1981.
The government has been controlled by a single man (Hosni Mubarak) and his cronies since that time, leading to widespread political persecution, including against the Muslim Brotherhood. While the MB has been at the forefront of advocacy for a more democratic government, they are also the core kernel of groups throughout the Middle East which advocate a more theocratic flavor to their government, including in Jordan.
Although incidents of terrorism are rather low, they continue to occur, sometimes with large numbers of dead civilians. Furthermore, repression against religious minorities (esp. Coptic Christians) has led to factional fighting.
Egypt is the most populous Arab country in the world and heavy-handed administration is keeping a lid on the situation but the pressure is building. The current president came to power when the last one was assassinated.
Why Should You Care?
Egypt has tremendous influence and clout in both the Arab and Sunni worlds. If Egypt should suffer a violent revolt or a more radical government should come into power, this would have wide-ranging impact on the Arab and Sunni world.
Sudan - You are probably quite aware of the human catastrophe that is Darfur. Roughly 2 million people are displaced, refugees either inside Sudan proper or in neighboring Chad.
You may be less aware that there are three insurgency groups fighting in the eastern part of Sudan, one of which is heavily financed by Eritrea. The level of violence is much lower than Darfur but the fighting contributes heavily to regional instability.
There is an accord that has been signed, a peace deal with the SPLA and other groups in the south, swapping disarmament for representation in the nat'l goverment. Fighting still occurs there, although more sporadically than before and the south has will vote in five years on whether they want to become an independent nation.
The south is where most of Sudan's oil reserves are, which while they do not rise to the level of Saudi Arabia, are still quite significant. Much of this is now being extracted by Chinese companies, and indeed China is spending billions on resource acquisition throughout Africa.
Furthermore, the Lord's Resistance Army, which does most of its fighting in neighboring Uganda, regularly stages out of southern Sudan. For many years Uganda financed the SPLA in an attempt to contain the LRA.
If all of that weren't enough, Sudan is financing two rebel groups that stage out of Darfur and attack Chad (the FUC and SCUD), including refugee camps of people who fled the fighting in Darfur. Chad and Sudan are on the verge of an all-out war at this time.
Why Should You Care?
Struggles over oil always lead to widespread instability and Sudan is stretched to the breaking point. Central African militias do not disarm or go away and continue to terrorize the local population plus hire themselves out as mercenaries in other countries.
Ethiopia - Neighboring Eritrea fought a long war of independence from Ethiopia, which was followed by a two year war over the border (centered on the town of Badme) that alone killed tens of thousands of people.
The United Nations ended up demarcating the border in a deal both nations agreed to adhere to but Ethiopia has "asked for adjustments", meaning it does not recognize the current border. Tensions are high as both nations have increased troop strength along the border. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force as a buffer, but Eritrea has refused to cooperate lately in retaliation for the UN failing to make Ethiopia adhere to the border demarcation.
Internally, the government has been guilty of numerous human rights violations against ethnic minorities in refugee camps, particularly in the south. Ethiopia also has strong connections to some of the warlords/factions in Somalia and may be clandestinely arming those groups.
There have been a couple of terrorism incidents in the capital of Addis Ababa, blamed on the opposition parties, particularly the CURD. The ruling EPRDF party has arrested thousands of opposition members and it seems quite evident that it rigged the May 2005 elections to maintain its grip on power.
Despite all this, Ethiopia remains a Gold Star Member of the War on Terror and a staunch American ally.
Eastern Africa, including parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are suffering from a severe drought which has led to widespread starvation, malnutrition and localized fighting over scare resources, including water.
Why Should You Care?
Part of the reason why the United States is so abhored worldwide is their support for repressive governments. Brutal and corrupt administration also hinders the country from being able to deliver relief aid as well as develop techniques to fight drought and famine.
Somalia - Without a central government since 1991, you might be forgiven for thinking Somalia is a chaotic, "wild west" land.
Actually the northern and central parts of the country have a relatively stable government in place, the self-declared nations of Somaliland and Puntland. Although they are not recognized internationally, they function as sovereign nations, having their own flags, courts, currency, passports, police and laws.
It is the southern section around Mogadishu which is divvied up amongst warlords, whose main function is profit-making rather than fighting. Convinced that Al-Qaeda members are operating in and near Mogadishu, the United States has (as of January 2006) begun to secretly finance an alliance of warlords (ARPCT) to fight another group of warlords (Islamic Courts union), which has led to recent fighting, killing hundreds of civilians.
Although the entire nation is under a UN-imposed embargo against weapons, armaments are flowing into the country at a steady rate. As in neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya, southern Sudan (especially) is suffering from a severe drought and famine.
Recently Somalia has been in the news because of piracy, wherein people in smaller vessels capture much larger ones, usually cargo ships although there was one attempt against a cruise ship. The passengers and cargo are held for ransom, providing a profitable reason to continue this practice.
Why Should You Care?
The shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia handle a large volume of traffic, including that coming down via the Suez Canal. Terrorists or other groups could use the increasingly-perfected art of piracy to cause a major disruption to the world's economy.
Kenya - For 24 years, the country was run by a dictator named Daniel arap Moi. With the 2002 election, the hope was that Kenya's future would be much more democratic and much less corrupt.
Unfortunately corruption continues to be endemic. The government, to include President Kibaki's main wife, have increasingly been cracking down on the media and opposition groups. The corruption means that billions of dollars in foreign aid rarely reaches the population and most Kenyans are extremely poor.
Despite all this, Kenya is still relatively stable in a political sense. The drought and poverty have led to much inter-factional and localized fighting, some of it spreading across the borders with Ethiopia and Sudan.
There have been two major terrorist incidents in Kenya - the 1998 bombing of the American embassy and the 2002 Mombasa attacks against a hotel and jetliner.
Why Should You Care?
It is likely in the next few years that Kenya's offshore oil deposits will start to provide serious income. If Kenya goes the way of most oil-exporting nations, this could lead to further repression by the government and even more corruption, if that is possible.
The southeastern part of Kenya is inhabited by many Muslim people. The attacks in Mombasa may have been a "live drill" of future attacks, the most serious of which is the shooting down of a commerical jet from a shoulder-fired missile.
Uganda - The government has been fighting a war for over 20 years against the horror that is the Lord's Resistance Army, perhaps the world's foremost insurgency group that has no clear political ambition.
The LRA operates by raiding towns and villages in northern Uganda, seizing food and weapons and kidnapping children, who are then forced to fight for the LRA, later kidnapping new child soldiers, leading to a vicious cycle of abuse. Those rescued from the LRA and those who manage to escape are often stigmatized, particularly as the LRA is known for horrifying amputations, including of the lips and ears.
As a result of the LRA's long-running war, the entire northern section of Uganda is virtually uninhabited with millions of people living in refugee camps. As a result, crops are not being grown and the government spends a lot of money guarding these hamlets and camps.
The Ugandan government has also long financed militias which operate in the eastern DR Congo, especially during the period of 1998-2003. Uganda claims it no longer does so but there are reports that government troops continue to operate across the border, as the region is rich in natural resources. Right now Uganda is in a "cold war" with Rwanda, Uganda's traditional rival in eastern DR Congo.
As stated above, the Ugandan government has also financed the SPLA in Sudan, leading to further regional instability.
Why Should You Care?
Central Africa is easily the most destabilized and fragmented region on Earth, leading to wars, starvation and suffering on an unimaginable scale.
DR Congo - Although the civil war officially ended in 2003, the DR Congo remains home to the deadliest conflict on Earth. If the DR Congo was in Europe, it would rank just behind World War 2 as the most number of dead civilians and cases of genocide/ethnic cleansing.
The good news is that Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe have largely withdrawn their support for fighting in DR Congo. The bad news is that Uganda and Rwanda continue to do so, although at a reduced level. There are approximately 20,000 UN peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo, battling not only Ugandan and Rwandan backed militias but also renegade factions of the government's army as well as local militias, including the Mai-Mai.
Unlike World War 2, the vast majority of the casualties in this continuing conflict are civilians. Rape and mutilation are standard practice and hundreds of thousands of people continue to flee from one area to the next. The UN has had to resort to dropping food aid by air into this region as a result of poor infrastructure and heavy fighting. Diseases and malnutrition are rampant.
The first democratic elections are scheduled for later this year. The European Union has pledged thousands of troops to help ensure peaceful voting. The United States has not.
Why Should You Care?
The DR Congo is a huge country and has vast natural resources including gold and mineral wealth. If the country was stabilized and peaceful, its peoples could benefit from these resources instead of living short, brutal lives of abject poverty. Indeed it is the abundance of resources which led to the civil war in the first place.
Central African Republic - It has a boring name and is largely neglected by the outside world. Since independence from France, it has suffered one coup after another and is easily one of the most politically unstable nations on Earth.
The current president, Francois Bozize, himself came into power after a coup, partially effected by hiring mercenaries from Chad. There are powerful criminal gangs operating in the north near the Chadian border. Although their primary aim right now is terrorizing the local populace for monetary gain, they are heavily armed and are causing thousands of people to flee across the border into Chad, further destabilizing that country.
Why Should You Care?
If the suffering of the people doesn't move your heart, the CAR is home to some of the last populations of lowland gorillas and forest elephants.
Chad - Chad has a long history of political instability. Like neighboring Sudan, half of the country is predominantly Muslim while the other half is Christian/animist and one half is ethnic Arab and the other half "black African", although I'm simplifying the ethnic distinctions somewhat for the sake of brevity.
The current president, Idriss Deby, originally came to power with backing from Libya and Sudan. Currently however Chad is fighting a hot war against Sudanese-backed rebels, including the FUC and SCUD. As I write this, the rebels are making a serious move to take the capital of N'Djamena.
Chad is home to large populations of refugees, both from the CAR to the south as well as Darfur to the east. President Deby used his stronghold on the parliament to change the law to allow him to run for a third term, fueling the insurgency movement.
Oil has also been discovered in Chad, with a pipeline running via Cameroon to export it to the rest of the world. The majority of the profits flow into the pockets of Deby and his clan, with most inhabits of Chad living in extreme poverty.
Despite all this, Chad remains a Silver Star Member of the War on Terror and a staunch American ally.
Why Should You Care?
Not only does the U.S. currently support the Deby administration, it also backed the presidency of Hissen Habre, whose regime was especially brutal. Again, support for these kinds of leaders does nothing to improve the image of America across the planet.
The fighting in Chad and Sudan has enormous consequences on destabilizing this region of the planet.
Senegal - If you look at the country of Senegal as a human hand, the area that would be the thumb is Casamance.
The good news is that the government signed a peace deal with the the MFDC separatists in Casamance in December 2004. The bad news is that a splinter offshoot of the MFDC has resumed fighting, some of which has involved fighting with gov't troops from Guinea-Bissau.
Although the majority of Senegal is largely peaceful and politically stable, President Abdoulaye Wade has taken more authoritarian steps as of late, including imprisoning his main political rival. Hundreds of thousands of landmines exist in Casamance, the war "gift" that keeps on giving years after conflicts end.
Why Should You Care?
The beaches of Casamance once drew tourists from around the world and could provide much needed income if peace can be achieved. Western Africa is dangerous unstable and fighting in Casamance could once again spill into neighboring countries as it did in the late 1990's.
Guinea-Bissau - In a continent with much poverty, Guinea-Bissau ranks amongst the poorest.
Currently there is little fighting but the country remains dangerously unstabilized. Current President Joao Bernardo Vieira was elected in a highly-contested vote last year that saw factional fighting in the streets between parties. Vieira himself is a former coupster and spent many years in exile. There has been one serious attack in the capital of Bissau since Vieira's latest administration, led by disgruntled government troops.
Perhaps most seriously, Vieira has violated the constitution and replaced Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr. (a member of the opposition PAIGC) with one of his own men. The political situation remains extremely fragile and a coup or serious revolt is easily possible.
Why Should You Care?
Unless you're addicted to cashew nuts (G-B's main source of income), you probably won't care. As with all Western African nations, fighting and instability has the devastating result of spilling across man-made borders into other countries.
Guinea - Although this nation has vast mineral resources, especially bauxite, most of the population lives in bitter poverty and lately the government has been relaxing price controls, leading to some rioting.
The country has been run by iron-fisted dictator Lansana Conte since 1984. While this has suppressed domestic unrest, Conte is aging and is quite ill and there is no clear successor in the wings. Conte recently flew to Switzerland for medical treatment. When Conte dies, and it won't be long, the country is most likely going to explode into a full-scale civil war. There have already been numerous coup attempts against Conte.
Why Should You Care?
Ethnicities do not stop at national borders. Many Guineans live in neighboring countries. Should a civil war break out, it is quite possible that this will destabilize the entire region, especially Cote D'Ivoire.
Cote D'Ivoire - Often called "Ivory Coast" in English, this country has been split in two since 2002 with the rebels controlling the northern half and the official government controlling the south.
Cote D'Ivoire has an explosive mix of ethnicities especially in the west, where many people migrated decades ago to harvest cocoa. Despite the mix of ethnicities (and in some cases religion), the country was fairly stable until a coup in 1999.
Cote D'Ivoire remains on the brink of a resumption of all out civil war. French and UN peacekeepers monitor the buffer zone between the two groups but this has failed to stop ethnic attacks in the west and rioting in the south. There are ongoing negotiations, including with admirable support from South Africa, to mediate a government that both sides can agree on.
One of the main sticking points is the ethnicity of Alassane Ouattara, considered a "foreigner" because his parents are of Burkinese origin even though he previously held the post of Prime Minister. I should mention that Outtara is Muslim as are many people in the north while those in the south are generally Christian/animist.
The government of Laurent Gbagbo continues to whip up xenophobia in an attempt to gain popular support, as it is only fractionally more legitimate than the rebels in the north.
Why Should You Care?
If western Africa is a powderkeg, Cote D'Ivoire is the fuse and both sides have their Zippos open and ready.
Burkina Faso - Just like neighboring Gambia, Burkina Faso has tremendous natural resources yet remains one of the world's poorest countries.
This is largely due to the multiple coups and dictatorships running the country, including current strongman Blaise Compaore, who came to power in a coup in 1987.
Although there is little fighting inside Burkina Faso, Compaore has backed the hideous LURD in Sierra Leone and remains a strong supporter of ex-Liberian president Charles Taylor, only recently arrested in Nigeria and facing war crimes charges.
Why Should You Care?
Taylor himself may be behind bars but Compaore continues to fund his supporters. Many ethnic Burkinese live in northern Cote D'Ivoire and the government there has alleged that Compaore provides funding and shelter to them as well.
Togo - The country was run from 1967 to 2005 by the dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema.
He died in 2005 and the military took over, installing his son Faure Gnassingbe in power. The African Union protested and put pressure on to hold democratic elections, the fairness of which is very much questioned. Gnassingbe was elected president, leading to factional fighting especially in the capital.
Thousands of opposition supporters fled the country and are now refugees in neighboring countries, especially Benin. Togo's human rights record remains extremely poor.
Why Should You Care?
You probably won't, unless human misery strikes a chord in your heart.
Nigeria - The good news is that Nigeria has a democratic national government after decades of military rulers and dictators. Pretty much everything else is bad news.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is home to many different groups, including Muslims in the north and Christians/animists in the south. There are dozens of separatist and insurgency groups, perhaps the most famous of which is in Biafra, which lost a devastating civil war in the 1960's.
Regional tension has led to tens of thousands of people being killed in factional fighting between every different group under the sun. The various groups are so precariously balanced that the central government cannot conduct a census for fears that the numbers would increase or decrease any given group's representation in the parliament. Despite the fact that the 2006 census did not ask questions of ethnicity or religion, violence killed dozens of census takers.
Nigeria has enormous oil deposits bringing in billions of dollars in revenue yet most Nigerians continue to live in abject poverty. This is largely due to endemic corruption, with Nigeria perhaps being the single most corrupt nation on Earth. A recent report showed that billions of dollars in oil profit remain unaccounted for.
If that weren't enough, there is a serious political fracturing as the vice president has been demanding that the president resign. There is also a movement to consider amending the constitution to allow the president to run for a third term, which is bitterly opposed by many.
The local peoples of the Delta region, especially the Ijaw, have begun demanding a greater percentage of oil revenue. This has been met with heavyhanded repression from the military. As a result, an insurgency group called the MEND has been formed, which specifically targets oil facilities and has kidnapped a number of foreign oil workers in exchange for ransom money.
Why Should You Care?
The MEND's attacks on oil infrastructure has led to an increase in the price of oil on the world market. If their demands are not met, the attacks will definitely continue.
Cameroon - On two occasions, Cameroon fought a war with Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula, which just so happens to be the home to very rich oil deposits
An international court ruled that the territory belongs to Cameroon but Nigeria continues to control the area and keeps several thousand troops there. It is quite possible for fighting to flare up again between these two nations, especially if Nigeria is weakened through internal rifts.
There is a separatist movement in the largely Christian south known as the SCNC. While the level of violence has remained low, the SCNC remain tenacious in their efforts.
Cameroon is also the terminal of an oil pipeline from Chad. Repression of free speech in Cameroon is some of the highest in the world despite the fact that the country has a higher than average literacy rate.
Why Should You Care?
Fighting over major oil resources always threatens to destabilize an already shake global market. African oil is becoming increasingly important to the United States.
Equatorial Guinea - If ever there was a travesty, Equatorial Guinea would be it.
A tiny nation of just 500,000 people, the country has vast offshore oil deposits which bring in billions of dollars in revenue every year. Yet the population lives in bitter poverty because the money goes into the hands of long-time strongman Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his immediate family.
Human rights abuses are rampant and torture is legal by government forces. Diseases, including the easily-preventable cholera, are rampant and life expectancy for most Equatorial Guineans is less than 50 years. A coup attempt in 2004 by South African mercenaries (partially funded by Mark Thatcher) was foiled.
Despite this, President Obiang was greeted as a "good friend" of the United States earlier this month by Condoleezza Rice.
Why Should You Care?
A good percentage of that oil is being extracted by American oil companies, and much of it sold to the United States.
Republic of Congo - Not to be confused with its much larger neighbor DR Congo, this country has suffered a vicious civil war from 1997 to 2003, largely along ethnic lines.
Angola intervened on the side of the government and a peace deal was signed with the rebels. The bad news is that remnants of the rebels, now freelancing as criminal militias (known collectively as the "Ninjas"), still continue to rampage in the Pool region.
Once again according to the worldwide pattern, Congo has oil resources but the majority of the population remains incredibly poor.
Why Should You Care?
You probably won't if you don't already. Western African oil deposits are becoming increasingly important to the United States as a replacement for Middle Eastern oil.
Angola - The nation suffered tremendously for 27 years in an extremely hardfought civil war between the MPLA and UNITA, which was a proxy of the Cold War, with the U.S and South Africa backing UNITA and Cuba and the Soviet Union backing the MPLA.
The relative good news is that the fighting has been largely over since 2002 and elections were held. The bad news is that long-time ruler Jose Eduardo dos Santos (in power since 1979) has delayed this year's elections and the MPLA has a stranglehold on the country's media, leading to a minimization of the opposition.
Angola has tremendous oil reserves (second only to Nigeria) yet just like everywhere else, the majority of the people are desperately poor. Diseases are rampant, including HIV, and much of the countryside is still littered with landmines.
Why Should You Care?
You probably won't if you don't already. Western African oil deposits are becoming increasingly important to the United States as a replacement for Middle Eastern oil.
Zimbabwe - There is almost nothing positive to report about Zimbabwe at all.
Run by former independence leader and one-time advocate for democracy ,Robert Mugabe has become a leader in the "strongman" tradition in the last 10 years. His Zanu-PF party has seized control of many farms owned by legacy white families and given them to party cronies, inverting the country from an agricultural exporter to one that is desperately short of basic foodstuffs.
Inflation is running at over 1000% percent and the country's economy is rapidly swirling the drain. To pay off an outstanding IMF debt so it could remain eligible for future relief, the government simply printed trillions of dollars' worth of new bank notes.
Repression on opposition supporters, including the MDC, remains heavy handed. Last year the government initiated an "urban renewel" scheme which bulldozed thousands of urban dwellings, driving some 700,000 people homeless, the vast majority of whom continue to remain so.
Corruption is endemic and relations with much of the outside world is hostile. The Mugabe government has recently turned towards China for international investment, although this seems to be a case of far too little, far too late. The population is rapidly heading towards widespread starvation.
Thousands of Zimbabweans have fled the country to work in South Africa and Botswana, with their remittances (now hand-carried into the nation after foreign currencies were outlawed) keeping those left behind alive. Botswana has had to build a large border fence to keep out the tidal wave of those trying to emigrate.
Why Should You Care?
Zimbabwe is rapidly heading towards an internal implosion. When that happens, millions of people will be affected in the region, especially as people flee the area to try and find jobs and food.
Malawi - The good news is that after a post-colonial history of totalitarian government, there are now elections.
The bad news is that the political parties and their various leaders rarely grasp the concept of democracy. Malawi is incredibly poor and most politicians consider their jobs as mostly an opportunity to benefit financially rather than do any actual governing.
Poor governance and natural disasters means that Malawi remains incredibly poor and regularly suffers from famine. Diseases such as HIV are extremely prevalent, with infected Malawians traveling to neighboring countries, especially South Africa.
Why Should You Care?
If you don't already, you probably won't.
Swaziland - The country is run by an absolute monarchy, otherwise known as a royal dictator. There is absolutely no political participation on any level in this country.
Surrounded on all sides by South Africa, this majority of this tiny nation lives in extreme poverty. Despite this, the king and his family continue to spend the income from the country's resources on maintaining their luxurious lifestyle.
Life expectancy is extremely low in Swaziland and diseases such as HIV are extremely prevalent. Food shortages, sometimes rising to the level of famine, are quite common.
Why Should You Care?
If you don't already, you probably won't.
Comoros Islands - Like the Seychelles, the Comoros Islands have beautiful beaches and could be a tourist haven.
Unfortunately these three islands have been ruled by a number of strongmen who came to power in a coup. The three islands are joined together in an extremely fragile power-sharing agreement which is at serious risk of fragmentation. Two of the islands declared independence in 1997 already, returning to the union only after being granted their own president.
The term for the current president, Azali Assoumani, is supposed to end this month with the presidency rotating to the president of Anjouan although there is a risk that will not happen.
Poverty remains endemic despite the fact that the country has such strong potential as a tourist destination.
Why Should You Care?
If you don't already, you probably won't.
I tried to explain in Part 1 and in this series why just hearing about these situations matters. The first step towards anything being done is simply becoming aware that the problem even exists.
I know that these kinds of stories tend to be extremely depressing. I don't want you to become overwhelmed by that, nor grow cynical because it seems like there is too much to be done.
There are some very good success stories in Africa, including in Liberia and Sierra Leone, once wracked by devastating civil wars. Rwanda and Burundi, once the home to some of the worst genocide ever seen, both now have democratic governments and a fairly stable political infrastructure. Remember that at one time apartheid ruled in South Africa, which seemed nearly invincible as the dominanting form of government.
Other success stories include Mozambique (although it is fragile), Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Madagascar, Sao Tome & Principe, Tanzania, Benin, Ghana and the Seychelles Islands. Countries like Niger, Mali and Mauritania suffer from famine and natural disasters but their political systems are fairly robust, even if in the case of Mauritania the country is run by a military coup.
Where there is hope, there is always a chance that peace will prevail. Worldwide attention on Darfur has not brought an end to the conflict, but there are peacekeepers in the region and the various groups have met several times to negotiate an end to the war. These are the first tiny steps in the right direction.
I realize this is a lot to take in all at once, but it's important for me to share these stories with you, albeit briefly. If the governments and commercial media of the world focused half as much attention on these conflicts as they do on Iraq, I'm sure much good work could be accomplished.
African nations have the resources to provide a healthy and prosperous life for their citizens. Unfortunately due to the colonial legacy and debt to foreign organizations, to say nothing of protectionist tariffs in the U.S. and Europe, the road towards a peaceful and prosperous life is very rocky.
I'll leave you with two quotes from Nelson Mandela, a man who spent 27 years of his life in prison and yet emerged not to conduct war but to lead his country on the path to a peaceful transition:
If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.
To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Cross-posted from the doubleplusungood crimethink website Flogging the Simian
Peace