The unfortunate Scramble for Africa is a historical event where the European powers cut the African Continent into pieces and divided it among themselves. The neo-Scramble for Africa is now starting where the western countries hop on one country and after scooping out the resources they move on to another country. The same is happening with the US as it has now moved on to Zambia after plundering Democratic Republic of Congo for yea
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been facing a heavy infestation of insurgents. Insurgents were deliberately planted to loot resources of DRC. These insurgents were backed by Rwanda which in turn was backed by the West to help the insurgents called M23 Rebels. The UN peacekeeping force is also deployed in DRC in the name of peacekeeping works but its actions show otherwise, it facilitates the illegal smuggling of Cobalt and other minerals from DRC to Rwanda.
The M23 menace is a headache for DRC, it wants to utilize its resources in its Eastern border region but cannot exercise its rights just because of Rwanda backed M23 Rebels.
The public spar between the Rwandan President and DRC’s President at UNGA’s 77th assembly is also not hidden from anyone. France also tried to sway this issue into its own sphere of influence but US’s loot of DRC’s minerals didn’t stop. Ultimately the African countries themselves took up the challenge to annihilate the menace of M23. This invited the wrath of America as its proxy was hurt but the African countries didn’t stop.
The Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) have agreed to send a regional force to the DRC to oust the M23 Rebels from the region. This decision was taken in the EAC Summit held in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi. When the President of Kenya, William Ruto, was asked that why did it interfere in the internal matters of DRC, he stated, “These are not responsibilities we can run away from…peace in DRC, peace in Somalia, equals to peace in Kenya,”
He also stated that the DRC is the biggest cargo mover on the port of Mombasa, the biggest port in the region. Instability in DRC will hamper the business prospects of Kenya. After the eradication process of the US’ proxy started, a rattled US imposed sanctions on DRC though its terror financing watchdog FATF citing reasons such as money laundering and terror financing.
USA in Damage Control
After sniffing the obliteration of its influence in DRC, USA started to scramble for minerals and resources to fill up the gap after the annihilation of most of the M23 Group. In its scramble for minerals, the USA found a suitable target in the form of DRC’s neighbour Zambia.
It is important to note that Zambia has a capacity to produce almost every mineral or metal found in the DRC. After the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia is the largest producer of Copper in Africa and also an important source of other minerals such as manganese, nickel and cobalt.
In order to trap Zambia under its influence USA tried its old strategy which is “money.”
In the year 2020, Zambia became the first African country during the pandemic era which defaulted on loans. According to most of the most of the analysts, the restructuring of its whopping $17 Billion external debt is seen as a test case. After restructuring the way was then clear to provide Zambia a bailout package from IMF which is a lackey of the west, to further tighten the grip on its resources.
Even the IMF’s managing director Kristalina Georgieva stated in her tweet, “Very pleased the Official Creditor Committee for Zambia has provided its financial assurances clearing the way for a Fund program,”
Very pleased the Official Creditor Committee for Zambia has provided its financial assurances clearing the way for a Fund program. This shows the potential of the #G20CommonFramework for debt treatment to deliver for countries committed to dealing with their debt problems. [1/2]
— Kristalina Georgieva (@KGeorgieva) July 30, 2022
After this Zambia received a $1.3 Billion IMF bailout package in order to improve its economy. The US got control over Zambia’s internal matters through its proxy organization IMF and started to dictate terms to Zambia in a matter of a few weeks, because the government in Zambia is nothing more a puppet of the USA.
Following this, recently a delegation from US visited Lusaka, Zambia to attend a 2-day business summit through which the US will invest in Zambia’s businesses in the name of increasing cooperation and help Zambia to diversify its economy. But the real matter is that it just wants its resources either by hook or crook. The Charm offensive is at play now and time will tell that will Zambia surrender to US or will see through its sugarcoated talks?
