Conclusion: Africa’s Political and Strategic Marginalization: A United States Perspective

Abstract

Our analyses demonstrate that Africa remains as volatile as ever, much as Pliny observed two millennia ago, and that the conflictual character of Africa dominates the investigation of all other social affairs of the continent. Many of Africa’s current tumultuous developments have been initiated and shaped by the Cold War, especially by its tendency to pressure vulnerable Third World states into two opposing camps (e.g. Angola). Other conflicts, as well as social problems associated with modernization efforts, may be traced to the fundamental changes brought about by external penetration of Africa’s traditional societies and subsequent irreversible social disruptions encountered during the long era of European coastal trade, then effective colonial rule (e.g. Gold Coast). And numerous developmental problems resulting in conflicts emerged during the early volatile consolidative phase following independence (e.g. Nigeria). Of course, it may be argued that these sources of conflicts cannot be considered as mutually exclusive and therefore the origins of Africa’s severe incidences of instability will represent a mix of causes.

When you go around the world and look at US national interests, Africa as a continent has to be near the bottom of the list.

Mr Lawrence Eagleburger US Secretary of State¹