Patrick Bond on U.S. foreign policy in Africa; the struggle for Kismaayo, Somalia; and more news

“A Rotten Fusion of Neoliberalism and Neoconservatism: Which Africans Will Obama Whack Next?
posted by Albert Bangirana

This latest commentary by Patrick Bond (Durban, South Africa), and featured in Counterpunch, is another ear-to-the-ground presentation of the hypocrisy entrenched within American foreign aid policy and emphasizes the demeanor behind financial and military aid to Africa. It offers a research-based critique of President Obama’s aid policy so far and the squinted vision of advancing the American interest through such tied aid. Bond argues that as a supporter of institutionalism rather than credible leadership for Africa, Obama and his government have not relented in supporting some tyrannical African leaders and the American financial institutions that savor vampire economic politics that have resulted in more poverty in Africa and chronic vulnerability to the American natural resource-hungry tentacle.

Mogadishu Then and Now
In this new book, Rasna Warah, Mohamud Dirios, and Ismail Osman present a compelling photographic history of Mogadishu, Somalia.

“Somalia: The Kismaayo Condundrum(s)”
In this post for African Arguments, Abdi Aynte provides an overview of the two conflicting narratives emerging over the fate of Kismaayo, Somalia, which pits the Raskamboni militia against the Mogadishu-based federal government. Aynte argues that a power-sharing mechanism may be one way to move forward.

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