Target Somalia: AFRICOM’s Expanding Mission Should Include Combating Piracy

[Pete]

".....One of the great problems with "black" Africa, and to a smaller concern with "brown" Africa, was that the boundaries were laid down in straight lines disreguarding tribal concerns. A tribal majority in one country can be a tribal minority in the next.

That has been a huge problem since the colonial powers departed.

Which boundaries are you referring to? Independence treaties were largely renegotiated in the 1950’s. Ethnic overlap isn't exclusive to Africa......."

If you missed that there is no way we can have a conversation about Africa.

[KLB]

Originally Posted by Pete

".....One of the great problems with "black" Africa, and to a smaller concern with "brown" Africa, was that the boundaries were laid down in straight lines disreguarding tribal concerns. A tribal majority in one country can be a tribal minority in the next.

That has been a huge problem since the colonial powers departed.

Which boundaries are you referring to? Independence treaties were largely renegotiated in the 1950’s. Ethnic overlap isn't exclusive to Africa......."

If you missed that there is no way we can have a conversation about Africa.

I'm asking you to specifically identify the boundaries you're referring to so I can address the statement. You were kind of vague there, Pete. I really started this thread to suggest that AFRICOM should go after Somalia pirates. It's ironic that the piracy issue seems to be the one thing we agree on.

This thread has taken on a life of its own, but hey, if we all agreed with each other it would be a colorless world.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by KLB

I'm asking you to specifically identify the boundaries you're referring to so I can address the statement. .......

Language, Cultural and Tribal

A great place to start is with the Bantu peoples, their languages, different cultures and tribal groupings.

The Zulu are a Bantu people but have been known to be a bit prickly at times - and they know it.

[Marina]

This is a good discussion. IIRC, the premise of AFRICOM is indirect, working by, with and through Africans to help them build their indigenous capacity.

Given long history of imperialism, there was resistance to putting foreign bases and/or US mil on the continent. None of the AF countries were willing to host AFRICOM HQ, that is why it's in Germany or Italy or wherever in Europe it is.

JTF-HOA is a good model. Interagency effort, indirect approach. USCG train and equip Kenyans and Yemenis. Somalia doesn't have a functioning government, or a half way decent war lord, to work with.

I think PACOM picks up at the waterline and covers stuff in the Gulf of Aden if they care to. Could be wrong on that.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is like shoplifting, not a major threat to US national interests. If they start conducting military ops like attack on USS Cole, then we have a problem.

At the same time, there are a lot of resources. DRC has vast mineral resources, Nigeria and maybe some others have oil. Chinese are diving right in, regardless of human rights or governance issues. US needs to establish relationships with AF players to keep the lines open in the event of contingencies. Right now, most AF countries object to any US mil ops on the continent or in their waters.

It's all about building partner capacity, not directly taking on AF challenges.