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A New War on the African Continent

27 October, 2010 12:06:00 Arezki Daoud

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Looking for mineral resources in Niger

[The North Africa Journal | Economy] There is a different type of war being waged on the African continent and North Africa is not spared. Economic influence is the goal and money in its many forms is the weapon used by powerful interests for the dual purposes of wining contracts in a slowly emerging Africa, while guaranteeing access to increasingly scarce commodities.

Although the African continent has had a long experience with foreign influences, which culminated during the colonial era, this time competition is coming from new players who have different takes on Africa and vastly different approaches than the better-known motives of the Western powers. Russia and newcomer China are particularly aggressive in deploying their capabilities in the region. Whether it is their involvement in big construction projects, subsidizing financially troubled African nations, acquiring vast stakes in existing assets and corporations, the techniques for insuring influence are many and new ones are likely to emerge in the future. Continue here. Or subscribe here.

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