US STRATCOMForeign Media Analysis Program

VOICES FROM AFRICAPERCEPTIONS OF THE US

IN AFRICAN MEDIA

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Introduction

African Press –As Diverse as the Continent Growing in Internet sector Free and Restricted (Namibia

versus Eritrea and Libya) Broad focus with emphasis

on key concerns

Media Analysis Identifies and assesses messages,

trends, and influential voices Findings may not apply to entire

population

Sources African press available on-line Major dailies from key countries

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Overview

Concerns about Africa in the press of the five regions (Southern, Eastern, Central, Western, Northern)

Analysis of perceptions of the US

Reporting about AFRICOM (45 articles from monitored sources)

Most prevalent finding: Africans seek African solutions for African problems.

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Southern Africa

Angola Botswana Lesotho Malawi Madagascar Mozambique Namibia South Africa Swaziland Zambia Zimbabwe

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Southern Africa: Concerns and Perceptions

There has been little mention of the US in the press.Much of the reporting dealt with regional instability.

Zimbabwe – Members of Southern African Development Community (SADC) concerned about instability. SA President Mbeki seeks “quiet diplomatic solution.”

“We have no time for the EU, no time for the Americans or any other group outside of Africa except for African friends.” (Mugabe Spokesperson, 29 Mar 07, AFP)

South Africa – US-SA relations rapidly deteriorating in the era of President Mbeki. (Business Day, SA, 28 Feb 07)

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Southern Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Reporting about AFRICOM has been negative. A few articles were neutral.

“AFRICOM’s advent follows a pattern of extraordinary military expansion under George Bush; it makes China’s business oriented policy look like a corner shop.” (Mail & Guardian, SA, 9 Feb 07)

“Creation of AFRICOM is a belated admission that the world changed in 1989 not in 2001; it’s the US that’s playing catch-up to global and continental realities.” (Business Day, SA, 9 Feb 07)

“The possible creation of AFRICOM contains a notable omission: the word ‘oil.’” (Business Day, SA, 14 Feb 07)

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Southern Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Botswana yet to work out position on AFRICOM since it was not consulted by US on command structure. (Mmegi/The Reporter, Botswana, 27 Feb 07)

AFRICOM does not bode well for the continent, says editorial; US military installations on African territory would mortgage away sovereignty; Botswana should stay clear. (Mmegi/The Reporter, Botswana, 28 Feb 07)

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Eastern Africa

Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Somalia Sudan Tanzania Uganda

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Eastern Africa: Concerns and Perceptions

Much of the reporting dealt with regional instability. Somalia – Instability, GWOT, Islamists, Ethiopian role; Somalia offered amnesty to insurgents except for “international terrorists.”

Regional Security - Concern about illegal firearms; Concern about return of terrorism; Uganda asks East African Community (EAC) to share security information to stem terrorist attacks.

Ugandan Defense Minister on recent Kenyan bombing: “In Uganda and Tanzania, we feel that the attack was not on Kenya alone, but on the whole region. We have to keep sharing information or the bloody hand of terrorism could stretch to our countries again.” (New Vision, Uganda, 14 Jun 07)

Sudan – Darfur CrisisHybrid peacekeeping force is major news topic; humanitarian concerns; AU boycotted 25 June Paris conference because of lack of prior consultation.

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Eastern Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Reporting about AFRICOM has been 100% negative.

AFRICOM is exactly the opposite of what we need; it will tilt countries toward military responses to issues that need patience and diplomatic approaches. “How different Chinese and US approaches to assuring oil flow are!” Bush has embarked on a righteous goal with altogether counterproductive methods. (Daily Nation, Kenya, 8 Feb 07)

US is using Somalia and neighboring countries to conduct experimental tests on the effectiveness of its new military outfit, AFRICOM. (East African Standard, Kenya, 27 May 07)

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Central Africa

Burundi Cameroon Central African Republic Democratic Republic of

Congo Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe

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Central Africa: Concerns and Perceptions

80% of the articles presented a positive view of the US.

Positive reporting on US efforts to assist in fight against HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases

Reporting reflected concerns about instability in the region and joint corrective measures

Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi decided to establish peace in the region through cooperative measures against rebels and terrorists regimes; through encouragement of the US, the countries established the Intelligence Fusion Center (IFC) to promote joint collaboration (New Times, Rwanda, 14 Jun 07)

There was no reporting about AFRICOM.

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Western Africa

Benin Burkina Faso Cote d’Ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone

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Western Africa: Concerns and Perceptions

Reporting concerning the US was mixed depending onthe subject. Perceptions were generally positive in areas of education assistance,

electoral reforms and trade. Perceptions were mostly negative in areas of military activity/operations and

global warming. Mixed views of US on Darfur crisis and US presence in oil-rich regions. Region very concerned about internal and regional instability and energy

security, especially in oil-rich Gulf of Guinea (e.g. Niger Delta).

Nigerian diplomats and international relations scholars criticized US over the presence of its marines in Nigerian coastal waters, which they described as a threat to the nation's security; the diplomats, at a round table discussion in Lagos, warned that a repeat of the Kuwaiti experience may be imminent in Nigeria. (The Guardian, Nigeria, 20 Jun 07)

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Western Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Reporting on AFRICOM mostly factual/neutral(60%) with a negative undertone with few exceptions.

Editorialist wrote, “It is gainsaying to mention that Africans will be seeing US marines and soldiers more often than not,” and referred to President Bush as “an emerging Hitler whose primary motive is to extend his influence.” (Daily Trust, Nigeria, 11 Feb 07)

Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson said the role of AFRICOM will be “conflict prevention, rather than intervention.” (AllAfrica.com, 25 Jun 07)

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Northern Africa

Algeria Chad Egypt Libya Mali Mauritania Morocco Niger Tunisia Western Sahara

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Northern Africa: Concerns and Perceptions

Reporting about the US was mostly negative.

Most of region very concerned about Darfur crisis. Some countries concerned with perceived US interference in

matters of internal governance. Egypt accused US of “arm twisting” in response to US Congressional

Committee’s attempt to withhold 200 million USD in military aid based on Egypt’s poor human rights and political reform record. (Al Gomhurriya, Al Masry Al Youm, Egypt, 16 Jun 07)

Egyptian Foreign Minister called the move by Congress “unacceptable interference” in Egyptian internal affairs. (Al Ahram, Egypt, 24 Jun 07)

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Northern Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Reporting on AFRICOM was negative (90%).

Justice and Development Party warned against making Morocco a “battle ground” between US and its “enemies” in case government is considering hosting AFRICOM. (Al Tajdid, Morocco, 12 Jun 07)

Libyan officials rejected idea of any foreign power establishing military bases anywhere in Africa after meeting with US officials. (Al Ahram, Egypt, 14 Jun 07)

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Northern Africa: Reporting on AFRICOM

Most articles noted opposition from governments tohosting AFRICOM.

After a visit by US Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bedjaoui denied that Algeria received a request from the US to establish military bases on its territory as a part of plans for an Africa Command in 2008 and said “Algeria will not accept American bases on its territory.” (El Watan, Algeria, 3 Mar 07)

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PEW Global Attitudes Project

According to 2007 Pew Global Attitudes Project findings “U.S. image remains positive in Africa.”

Africans admire American democracy and approach to business.

Study found “No gap between how America and its people are viewed.”

AIDS and other infectious diseases are the overwhelming priorities of Africans surveyed.

Africans feel their countries should take responsibility for handling the AIDS crisis.

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African Union in the Press

Recent AU Summit envisioned the creation of a United States of Africa (25 June – 3 July 2007)

Divisions exist over the pace of its creation. Sengalese Foreign Affairs Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio said AU

Summit in Accra, Ghana will be “a battleground for gazelles (countries supporting a quick setting up of an African government) and elephants (countries supporting a more gradual move).” (The Guardian, Nigeria, 20 Jun 07)

Darfur/Sudan “Some of the sentimental ‘suits’ in the US administration may shed real

tears for the Darfurians, but the hard-nosed warriors know that Sudan is a vital element in regional security.” (Business Day, SA, 22 Jun 07)

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Conclusion: Perceptions of the US and AFRICOM

The underlying impression of the US reported in the African press is that it is an imperial power.

The US is viewed positively for its humanitarian efforts. Most reporting about AFRICOM appeared in the two weeks

following the February announcement of the new command. Sentiment about AFRICOM has been mostly negative. AFRICOM is viewed primarily as a military endeavor.

“Africom … does not proffer answers to the growing tide of conflicts that inflict the beleaguered continent; rather it raises a lot of queries.” (Editorial in Daily Trust, Nigeria, 11 February 2007)

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