Obama Pledges Billions to Boost Africa's Infrastructure

More like "AfriCON"

Joe Wright

Obama's 100 million dollar trip to Africa is controversial enough, as the U.S. taxpayer has been further burdened during worsening economic conditions at home. To add insult to injury, Obama has pledged a minimum of $7 billion dollars to boost access to electricity across parts of Africa. As highlighted in the video below, "Power Africa" will add better capacity to 20 million homes and commercial entities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania over the next 5 years. Naturally this is being couched in presumed economic benefits for America, as summarized by CNN: “The trip aims to bolster U.S. investment opportunities, address development issues such as food security and health, and promote democracy.” Obama also couldn't resist adding a note about the environment and climate change:

The $16 billion public-private partnership is mandated to focus on “villages and farms” as well as urban centers and is designed to “support clean energy to protect the environment and prevent climate change,” Obama said. (Source)

Meanwhile at home, as noted by Daisy Luther, one "large western US power company recently announced that they did not foresee the ability to keep up with electrical demand this summer, and may institute rolling blackouts to cope with it." The general weakness of the U.S. electric grid costs the U.S. economy an estimated 80 billion dollars a year.

Beyond this, the state of American infrastructure in general is dismal and is heading toward third world status. States are on the verge of bankruptcy, cities are going dark, asphalt roads are returning to the stone age, and nationwide budget cuts are leaving students without teachers, supplies, or a full-time education.  Here are 21 Facts About America's Decaying Infrastructure That Will Blow Your Mind and 40 Statistics About The Fall Of The U.S. Economy That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe.

Nevertheless, Africa has been targeted by big business and the military-industrial complex as a muli-level resource.Stephen Lendman explains that America's interest in Africa has very little to do with helping anyone -- Africans or Americans.

Americans pay plenty for presidents who betray them. Imagine what presidential largesse could buy. America's hungry could be fed. The nation's homeless could be sheltered. Needy families could get free healthcare. Students hungry for knowledge could be educated.  

Obama's trip might have cost more. Initial plans included a Tanzania safari. Counterassault team protection against wild animals doesn't come cheap. 

(...) 

Obama's African visit reflects America's scramble for its resources. They're vast. They're some of the world's largest and richest. They include oil, gas, gold, silver, diamonds, uranium, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel, coal, timber, cobalt, bauxite, wood, coltan, manganese, chromium, vanadium-bearing titanium, and much more. Continental agricultural lands are valued. So is offshore fishing. Senegal's strategically important. It's a regional hub.

(...) 

AFRICOM was established to exploit the continent's riches. Resource/mineral control defines America's agenda. Securing them at China's expense is prioritized. (Source)

AFRICOM was created by order of President George W. Bush in 2007. AFRICOM describes its objective:

Our approach is based upon supporting U.S. national security interests in Africa as articulated by the President and Secretaries of State and Defense in the National Security Strategy and the National Military Strategy. The United States and African nations have strong mutual interests in promoting security and stability on the continent of Africa, its island states, and maritime zones. Advancing these interests requires a unified approach that integrates efforts with those of other U.S. government departments and agencies, as well as our African and other international partners. [Africom FAQ] (Source article)

For a comprehensive overview of what arch globalists such as Zbigniew Brzezinski have to say about the value of Balkanization in Africa as part and parcel of The Grand Chessboard, read Nile Bowie's articles, "Nigeria: Fertile Ground for Balkanization" and "AFRICOM Report: Combating Chinese Economic Encroachment in Central Africa."

All things considered, Obama's visit to Africa looks less like compassion for a destitute, helpless continent ... and more like setting up shop.

Video transcript with source links below

by John O'Connor

President Obama announced Sunday a new multibillion-dollar pledge to enhance electricity access across Africa.

The $7 billion venture — dubbed “Power Africa” — will complement an additional $9 billion in private funds to combat frequent blackouts and provide access to power for sub-Saharan Africa. (ViaMSNBC)

Businessweek notes: "The venture will begin in six countries — Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania — to add more than 10,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and will expand electricity access to at least 20 million new households and commercial entities.”

The funds for the initiative will be distributed over the course of the next five years.

In a statement released Sunday, The White House explains more than two-thirds of the population is without electricity, and more than 85 percent of those in rural areas have no access.

The president made the announcement while in South Africa — the continent’s biggest economy — as a part of his week-long visit to the region. According to CNN: “The trip aims to bolster U.S. investment opportunities, address development issues such as food security and health, and promote democracy.”

The Los Angeles Times explains during his first term, President Obama has been charged with neglecting U.S investment in Africa, “allowing other countries — most notably China — to rush in with new investment. The Power Africa program is part of the administration's answer to such criticism.”

According to the White House, sub-Saharan Africa will need more than $300 billion in order to achieve universal electricity by 2030.

Read other articles by Joe Wright HERE

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