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A Day at Brookings
We all know of the Brookings Institution. It is generally left-center Think Tank here in Washington near Dupont Circle on Massachusetts Ave. Earlier this week they held two African themed events (After All the G-8 were in town).
The First Event was itself a very interesting concept. It was regarding how the Warning Signs of Trouble that emerged in the Horn (lack of rain, food security etc...) prior to the collapse of the Siad Barre Regime in Somalia and that have returned intermittently since then have been ignored in West Africa.
Before the latest round of coups that hit the Region (notably Mali) there have been concerns and reports from the UN and other agencies warning that the current stockpiles of food were in a critical stage. Lackluster Rains during the rainy season last year did not bode well either. Donations from the wealthy to both the Horn and the Sahel have been drops in the bucket compared to the generous donations raised after the Haiti Earthquake and the Southeast Asian Tsunami. This is part of the CNN effect.
Better coordination to prevent another such event on this scale or prevention will go along way to save lives.
The Second Meeting which occured later that afternoon were remarks offered by the Kenyan Vice-President and Minister of Internal Affairs the Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. During this presentation several key aspects of US Policy towards East Africa were revealed. There was a delegation of Kenyan Parliamentarians and Embassy Staff there and the Rwandan Ambassador to the US was in attendance there.
He started by stating how pleased he was to be able to interact with the Kenyan Community in the United States. He had just arrived earlier from Boston. His initial remarks were based on how Kenya has moved forward as a Nation after the Post-Election Violence in 2008. As a matter of fact he described how "He sees the Light at the End of the Tunnel."
He praised the incursion by Kenyan Troops into Somalia. He states that Kenya wants a stable secure Somalia. He praised the efforts of the AMISOM mission and the Countries supporting it (Uganda,Burundi,Djibouti and Sierra Leone). He also praised the efforts of Ethiopia in assisting in the stabilization operation. One hope that was raised was the eventual appearance of Nigerian Troops in Somalia. With the reports of a link between Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab could the recent offensive in Northern Nigeria be an effort to keep the Nigerian Army out of Somalia?
Another statement that was made indicates there was shock in Nairobi that the State Department was not more supportive of the Kenyan Incursion into Somalia. That is an interesting point to ponder. An even better question for Mitt Romney to ask during a debate as well.
South Sudan also came up. Kenyan Diplomacy with Bashir was revealed. Bashir made the statement that Kenya has nothing to worry about since "The Nile doesn't flow in their direction" So if there is a Sudan-South Sudan War it probably be more likely fought over Water Rights regarding the Nile than over the Helig Oilfields or Blue Nile or Kordofan.
The Writer of this blog was allowed the chance to ask the final question of the event. The question was a two part question.
The First part dealt with the increasing defense budgets in Uganda and Kenya. Were they designed to monitor each other? or to assist South Sudan when necessary?
Second part dealt with the Mineral Smuggling from the DRC via Kenya and what was being done to interdict the flow.
As to the First part Uganda is not a threat to Kenya and that the Country was reequipping due to ongoing Operations in Somalia. The US should not worry..... ( A similar question asked to a Delegation of South Sudanese Ministers garnered a similar response. So what is it about their relationship that they do not want the US to know about? Or is it that they have no faith in support from the current White House?)
Regarding the Mineral Smuggling the matter is under investigation and that they are working with President Kabila to end the process.
The First Event was itself a very interesting concept. It was regarding how the Warning Signs of Trouble that emerged in the Horn (lack of rain, food security etc...) prior to the collapse of the Siad Barre Regime in Somalia and that have returned intermittently since then have been ignored in West Africa.
Before the latest round of coups that hit the Region (notably Mali) there have been concerns and reports from the UN and other agencies warning that the current stockpiles of food were in a critical stage. Lackluster Rains during the rainy season last year did not bode well either. Donations from the wealthy to both the Horn and the Sahel have been drops in the bucket compared to the generous donations raised after the Haiti Earthquake and the Southeast Asian Tsunami. This is part of the CNN effect.
Better coordination to prevent another such event on this scale or prevention will go along way to save lives.
The Second Meeting which occured later that afternoon were remarks offered by the Kenyan Vice-President and Minister of Internal Affairs the Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. During this presentation several key aspects of US Policy towards East Africa were revealed. There was a delegation of Kenyan Parliamentarians and Embassy Staff there and the Rwandan Ambassador to the US was in attendance there.
He started by stating how pleased he was to be able to interact with the Kenyan Community in the United States. He had just arrived earlier from Boston. His initial remarks were based on how Kenya has moved forward as a Nation after the Post-Election Violence in 2008. As a matter of fact he described how "He sees the Light at the End of the Tunnel."
He praised the incursion by Kenyan Troops into Somalia. He states that Kenya wants a stable secure Somalia. He praised the efforts of the AMISOM mission and the Countries supporting it (Uganda,Burundi,Djibouti and Sierra Leone). He also praised the efforts of Ethiopia in assisting in the stabilization operation. One hope that was raised was the eventual appearance of Nigerian Troops in Somalia. With the reports of a link between Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab could the recent offensive in Northern Nigeria be an effort to keep the Nigerian Army out of Somalia?
Another statement that was made indicates there was shock in Nairobi that the State Department was not more supportive of the Kenyan Incursion into Somalia. That is an interesting point to ponder. An even better question for Mitt Romney to ask during a debate as well.
South Sudan also came up. Kenyan Diplomacy with Bashir was revealed. Bashir made the statement that Kenya has nothing to worry about since "The Nile doesn't flow in their direction" So if there is a Sudan-South Sudan War it probably be more likely fought over Water Rights regarding the Nile than over the Helig Oilfields or Blue Nile or Kordofan.
The Writer of this blog was allowed the chance to ask the final question of the event. The question was a two part question.
The First part dealt with the increasing defense budgets in Uganda and Kenya. Were they designed to monitor each other? or to assist South Sudan when necessary?
Second part dealt with the Mineral Smuggling from the DRC via Kenya and what was being done to interdict the flow.
As to the First part Uganda is not a threat to Kenya and that the Country was reequipping due to ongoing Operations in Somalia. The US should not worry..... ( A similar question asked to a Delegation of South Sudanese Ministers garnered a similar response. So what is it about their relationship that they do not want the US to know about? Or is it that they have no faith in support from the current White House?)
Regarding the Mineral Smuggling the matter is under investigation and that they are working with President Kabila to end the process.
