Several senior
African government representatives who have recently come through my door have
told me that they have been “instructed” and “warned” not to meet or talk with
me/STTEP by the “US Government”. But, they also tell me that for too long they
have been misled and will now meet with whomever they wish to meet. Like me,
they too believe that African governments have a rightful say in terms of who
they want to talk to and get advice from and not be dictated to whom - and who
not - they may talk to. (See my previous posting titled “HYPOCRISY AND THE
POWER OF PERCEPTION”).
Then I
recalled that several years ago, a senior US officer said to me: “If you are not with us, you are against us
– if you’re against us, then you are the enemy. It is as simple as that”. I
shrugged off this comment as it merely smacked of playground bullying. Little
did I realise just how prophetic his words would become. By implication, no one
is allowed to criticise anything the US does in Africa – even when it fails
dismally - as it seems criticism is now construed as “terrorism”.
Earlier
this week, I had a conversation with someone in the US who told me that during
a discussion with a congressman it had been emphatically stated that STTEP has
been blacklisted by the US Department of State (DoS). We are now “persons of
interest”. We are now placed in the same category as subversive groups. Was I
surprised? No, not really.
But, I
suppose that makes anyone who speaks to us or is in any manner or form
associated with us also “persons of interest” and therefore attempts will be
made to blacklist them as well.
I was
aware of the fact that the FBI had spent time, money and effort investigating a
totally legitimate contract a US company had with STTEP so I knew that for some
reason we were considered as “unsavoury” in their eyes. We also know the US
company was threatened if they did not terminate the contract with us. Was the
US concerned that we were about to succeed and that questions would then be
asked and which they would not be able to answer?
One does
not have to be a rocket scientist to see certain indications and footprints on
the ground and then be able to make a fairly accurate prediction of what is
coming. These predictions are usually correct – and they hold no good for
Africa. The examples are there to see for anyone who follows happenings in
Africa.
As I was
told earlier this week: “In times of universal
deceit, the truth is a revolutionary act”. We have been there, done that
and patiently waited for the truth to surface – which it now finally seems to
be doing.
I often
wonder if US citizens are aware of the duplicitous nature of US foreign policy
in Africa? I am sure that many would disapprove if they really knew and
understood what was happening. I know that many US servicemen are equally
alarmed at what is happening but they go where their government orders them to
go. We understand that as we too have walked that path. We also know that many fine
US citizens are really keen and willing to invest
more than just talk to make Africa work and conflicts end. Conversely, we are
also aware of the immense anger, distrust and dislike that is gradually building
up against the US from numerous quarters in Africa. We are privy to that on an
almost daily basis. When I mentioned our being blacklisted to an ambassador
this morning, his response was “Then it
proves you are doing something right - don’t stop!”
One would
therefore think that as the US is trying to win friends they would not make such
an effort to alienate people who simply disagree with them.
Recently,
one of our directors was apprehended on arrival in the US after “babysitting” a
US NGO in a conflict zone. He was subject to a lengthy interrogation and his
laptop was confiscated and sucked dry. If they were so keen to know what was on
his laptop, all they had to do was ask but instead, he was treated like a
criminal. Two subsequent “interviews” have since followed. Since the return of
his laptop, it has never been the same. It appears the DoS even regards
Africans who assist US citizens and NGOs as threats to US national security.
We have
again become the “bad guys” despite the fact that neither EO (1989 – 1996) and
later STTEP (2006 -) had and have never acted illegally – although we were
constantly subject to such untrue claims by those who wanted the conflicts to
continue - never invaded countries but were always invited there by the
governments, worked alongside government forces, were/are always accountable to
the contracting government, never attempted to depose governments, always
fulfilled our contracts, never raped women and children, never smuggled opium
or any other drugs, never lied to and/or cheated a government, never murdered
civilians, never bribed or blackmailed government officials into giving us a
contract, actually ended long-running conflicts rapidly, always been honest
with African governments, never engaged in criminal behaviour, never engaged in
acts of terrorism against the US or any other government and so forth. This
appears to be simply a continuation of trying to prevent an African company that
has a record of success of working in Africa and solving African problems. That
right is apparently solely reserved for the US DoS despite the fact that success
remains sadly elusive for them and that destruction and destabilisation in
Africa will continue to be their legacy.
This may
also explain the reason my blog’s comments are being tampered with and on
occasion blocked or deleted before I can post and respond to them.
Be that
as it may – STTEP and I will never give up on Africa as we were born here and
will die here. We love our Continent despite its many problems which we are very
well aware of. I believe we understand those problems better than most who live
beyond our shores.
If it is
the desire of US DoS or any other foreign government to promote conflict in
Africa, we will criticise that approach and when we are asked by the targeted African
governments, we will work at ending conflicts and trying to see this wealthy
continent flourish.
If our
desire to see a peaceful, prosperous and successful Africa has resulted in us
being blacklisted by the US, then so be it. At least, we now know where we
stand.
But, if
we stand for nothing, we will fall for anything.
We are
not prepared to do that.
We will
leave that to the so-called superpower which is now fast losing its power in Africa.
