The Strategic Importance of Africa
by IASPS Staff

In the April 6th, 2001 issue of Africa Analysis, the London-based journal carried a commentary piece on American policies towards Sub-Saharan Africa. The opinion was co-authored by IASPS Strategic Fellow Paul Michael Wihbey and US State Department expert Dr. Barry Schutz, Office of Analysis for Africa, Washington DC. In the article, Wihbey and Schutz challenge the conventional wisdom that the United States has no vital interests in Africa. The authors contend that Africa, because of the availability of its alternative, plentiful and reliable energy sources, is increasingly an attractive zone for American engagement at the political, economic and security levels. The authors recommend three specific American policy initiatives that would enhance the US presence in Africa including: 1. Debt Forgiveness, 2. Free Trade and 3. Establishing a new US military command structure for the South Atlantic. Click here to read the commentary (in PDF format), and for additional background on this issue, see NBN "American Policy and Africa."