British Policy in West Africa - Case Study Example

Running Head: British policy in West Africa British policy in West Africa of British policy in West Africa Many countries of West Africa remained under the influence of Britain during the colonial age. Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria were controlled by Britain for a long time during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Britain has intervened in recent years in Sierra Leone. The decision to intervene was the largest mobilization of British forces since the 1991 Gulf War. The objectives of the intervention were to protect the population from marauding insurgents and gangs. Sierra Leone obtained independence from Britain in 1961. However during the early 1990s civil war broke out and regional African peacekeeping troops could not stop the war. The British intervention in Sierra Leone has been welcomed in Africa since Somalia and Rwanda seemed to create an impression that Western powers would intervene only if their vital interests were threatened. It also proved that a professional Western army could bring peace at a minimum cost. The British intervention also helped build the image of the United Nations by insisting that the Security Council had backed the intervention (Anyang, 2002). The intervention has also provided a model in which international peacekeeping forces can try to solve the fundamental problems of African conflicts. The British also pressurized the United Nations to impose security sanctions unless Charles Taylor was removed from office. This policy successfully led to the removal of Charles Taylor and a peace agreement was signed between the government and rebel factions. A UN peace mission was also deployed in Liberia. The British intervention also led the French to intervene in Côte D’Ivoire. The country would have plunged into civil war if the French had not intervened. The British intervention in Sierra Leone was launched after several hundred UN troops disappeared. The withdrawal of West African troops created a serious security problem which UN troops were unable to fill. The RUF launched attacks on UN troops and took large numbers of them hostage. The intervention consisted of eight hundred troops with air and naval support. The short term mission was to counter the gains the RUF had made and help support government troops. An operation was launched to rescue the kidnapped UN soldiers and to repulse the rebel offensive towards Waterloo and Freetown. British troops were deployed in the capital to prevent the RUF from capturing it. The long term goals of the intervention were to build institutions in support of the government forces. Sierra Leone’s army was trained by the British intervention force. They also assisted the UN in planning and strategic deployments by providing logistics. The British operation was crucial for establishing the credibility of the United Nations. The British also sharply reacted after the abduction of eleven British soldiers by rebel forces. The operation was successful as it led to the rescue of the hostages and capture of several rebels. Jordanian troops under the UN were successfully deployed in defensive positions due to logistics support from the British intervention force. The failure of the Jordanian deployment would have resulted in the continued plunder of the diamond rich North West by the rebel groups. Clearly the British assistance helped make the UN forces more professional by providing assistance to them (Anyang, 2002). Sierra Leone by the 1990s had become a failed state as rebel groups like Revolutionary United Force led by Foday Sankoh and Samuel Bokarie backed by the government of Liberia were threatening the government. President Ahmed Tajan Kabah was elected President of Sierra Leone in 1996 in what was termed as a free and fair election. However military coups and civil war continued to threaten the new government. There were three military interventions by outside powers. The first intervention was conducted by West African peacekeeping forces. This operation was also not successful because of lack of proper training and logistics. The second operation was by the United Nations which also did not succeed. The third intervention by British troops was more successful than the previous interventions. The British intervention in Sierra Leone was a positive step towards the stabilization of a war torn country. With only one combat fatality the British forces had repelled a rebel assault at Freetown airport. They had also rescued British troops held hostage and destroyed a militia. British forces were running the national police and finances for a couple of years. In the short term the intervention was a success since people were no longer being hacked to death or mutilated by axes and machetes. The RUF achieved notoriety by hacking people and cutting of their limbs, ears and noses. The stabilization of Sierra Leone creates a model for future interventions by Western powers in African civil wars (Anyang, 2002). Nigeria is a major oil producer and the largest country in West Africa. Britain has strong historical, language and constitutional ties with Nigeria. It has invested more than two billion pounds in the country. Nigeria is Britain’s second largest African market. The United Kingdom has invested in oil and gas sectors to increase output. Nigeria’s agriculture sector is also an attractive investment opportunity for British investors. The mining and mineral processing sectors are attractive sectors where British organizations have invested. Finally the telecommunications sector is also lucrative from the British investor point of view because of its large market (Barnes, 2003). Nigeria is one of the world’s top oil producers yet remains dependant on foreign aid for sustaining its economy. After the return to civilian rule in the late 1990s, the economic prospects from foreign countries have helped stabilize its economy. Britain paid a positive role by canceling two billion pounds in aid. It also supported the largest debt relief to an African country in 2005. The Paris Club creditors wrote off sixty percent of the country’s debt. This has been a positive step by the United Kingdom in helping Nigeria achieve a prosperous economy. The United Kingdom’s Department for International Department has delivered assistance to Nigeria. It is estimated that one hundred million pounds of economic assistance will be delivered to Nigeria in 2008. The assistance program is aimed at allowing the diversification of industries. It also aims to enhance accountability and transparency in government institutions. Finally it aims to prevent the spread of AIDS and support health services (Sachs, 2005). Nigeria remains the United Kingdom’s second largest market in Africa. The United Kingdom has increased its exports to Nigeria to an estimated eight hundred and six million pounds in 2006. Shell, British Gas and Centrica have major investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. British Airways, British-American Tobacco, Unilever, Cadbury and other large companies have investment projects in the country. Britain’s positive role in Nigeria’s economy and politics has led to a strong bilateral relationship. It strongly advocated the return of democracy during the military rule. Both countries also held a dialogue on improving human rights in the country in 2003. The UK has also funded other projects to improve human rights in the country. The United Kingdom also pressurized the Sani Abacha regime to end its military rule and return the country to democracy. The execution of the human rights activist Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other human rights activists by the regime was condemned by the British government. Since the return to civilian rule, the British have been trying to assist the government in fighting corruption and improving financial management. With respect to the neighboring civil war in Sierra Leone, both countries shared a perception of the threat of the conflict for the region. Britain is reported to have assisted Nigerian efforts in leading peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone. It provided logistics and training to Nigerian armed forces for peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone. Nigeria being the regional powerhouse has worked with British forces to bring regional peace in Sierra Leone (Sachs, 2005). Gambia is a country which was a British protectorate from 1894 till 1965. The country had a multi party system until the 1980s. Military coups and violence plagued the country during the 1980s and 1990s. Political instability remains a major problem for the current government despite the return of civilian rule. The country has a poor human rights record which has been condemned by the United Kingdom. Students and journalists have been the targets of intimidation, pressure and prosecution from the government. The United Kingdom severely condemned the arrests and assassination of students and journalists in the country. The United Kingdom also pressurized the military government to return the country to democracy. Gambia has been the recipient of British economic assistance following the restoration of a democratic government. It is one of the few donors that have an office in the country. An estimated three million pounds were invested for development purposes. The money has been given to increase literacy rate, build an independent judiciary, financial management and building of civil society. It has also aimed to provide economic assistance and debt management to help the country’s economy. The UK also provides other forms of assistance through international organizations like the European Union, World Bank and United Nations. Gambia’s relations with the United Kingdom are strong. Trade with the UK is strong as the country is Gambia’s second largest trading partner. The UK exported goods worth fourteen million pounds in 2006. Many large British companies have also invested in Gambia’s infrastructure (Sachs, 2005). Ghana is another West African nation where the United Kingdom has historical, political and economic ties. Ghana was created in 1874 and was granted independence in 1957. It was the first country in the region to gain its independence. The country has a long history of military rule. Internal and external pressure however led to the restoration of civilian rule in the early 1990s. The United Kingdom runs one of the largest developmental programs in Ghana. An estimated seventy million pounds are being granted to Ghana as aid. The process has been to focus on health, education, water and reforming the public sector. It has also aimed at supporting financial management and creating transparency. The United Kingdom has further contributed fifty two million pounds for the country’s educational sector. Ghana’s educational policy aims to create compulsory basic education over a period of nine years. Ghana is the fourth largest market for the United Kingdom in Africa. An estimated one hundred and eighty nine million pounds of exports were valued by the UK to the country. The United Kingdom has an estimated five hundred million assets invested in the country. It has thirty two percent of shares in the country’s largest gold mining company. Several British companies have investments in Ghana like British airways, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays and Cadbury. The United Kingdom is also a major investor in cocoa, diamond and manganese sectors. There are an estimated one hundred and forty one registered British companies in the country (Appiah, 1999). The United Kingdom has also played a positive role in the affairs of other West African countries. Senegal is a relatively prosperous, democratic and free state in West Africa. The United Kingdom has aided the development of the economy through international organizations like the European Union and United Nations. The British Embassy in Dakar finances some limited development projects. Both countries have also extensive military cooperation. The British armed forces have trained the Senegal armed forces. Dakar was an important base for the deployment of British troops in Sierra Leone in 2000. It was also an evacuation point for British and other foreign nationals. The total number of exports to Senegal amounted to one hundred and ninety one million pounds in 2006. Niger is a landlocked state in West Africa which is very poor economy. The UK Department for International Department has provided economic assistance to the health and education sectors. It also wrote of hundred percent of the country’s bilateral debt in 2006 following the successful completion of an economic reform program. Relations with the United Kingdom are good but minimal. The UK is a major provider of humanitarian assistance to the country. The volume of exports was valued at four million pounds in 2006. Guinea-Bissau has relatively good relations with the United Kingdom. The country has been the recipient of aid as the UK has provided funds through international agencies. The volume of trade has been very limited and diplomatic contacts are maintained by the British High Commission in Dakar. West Africa is an important geopolitical area in Africa. The United Kingdom since the 1990s has played an active role in the political, economic and security affairs of the countries. Its greatest contribution was the intervention in Sierra Leone. The country was on the verge of being a failed state. Rebel groups were responsible for numerous atrocities like hacking and mutilating people. Two successive interventions by West African peacekeeping troops and UN failed to dislodge the rebels and bring a peace accord. The British government sent troops in 2000 with the aim of securing the release of five hundred UN soldiers held hostage by the rebels. Other goals included the stabilization of Sierra Leone, repulsing the rebels and helping the government to remain secure. The British forces quickly repulsed the rebel forces after deploying at the Freetown airport. They also rescued eleven soldiers who had been kidnapped by a predatory group. The intervention was successful because it helped the government of Sierra Leone to successfully repel the rebel attacks. The British armed forces also trained the Sierra Leone armed forces. They helped United Nations forces to move into defensive positions especially in the diamond rich regions. The intervention was beneficial because it helped counter the negative image in Africa that the West would intervene only if their vital interests are threatened. Somalia and Rwanda helped create that image. The intervention also led to similar interventions in neighboring states which helped prevent their disintegration. Finally it has led to peace in Sierra Leone where people do not need to fear being hacked or mutilated to death. Britain has played a positive role in West Africa since the 1990s. It has been providing developmental assistance to many countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, etc. It has helped write off the debt of Nigeria and pressurized the Paris Club to write the debt of the country. The United Kingdom also condemned human rights abuses under military regimes in Nigeria. Since the restoration of civilian rule it has helped many human rights projects in the region. Many large British companies have invested in Nigeria (Austin, 2003). Britain has also assisted other West African countries with focus on sectors like education, health, public reform, public finances, independent judiciary, and access to clean water, agriculture and industrial projects. It has increased its volume of trade with several countries. In Ghana, Britain has considerable investment in the country’s gold, diamond and manganese sectors. Gambia’s relations with the United Kingdom are strong. Trade with the UK is strong as the country is Gambia’s second largest trading partner. Senegal is a relatively prosperous and democratic country which has strong ties with the United Kingdom. Dakar the capital city of Senegal provided the forward base for the deployment of British troops in Sierra Leone. The UK also enjoys strong but minimal ties with countries like Niger and Guinea-Bissau. The UK has provided humanitarian assistance to these nations. Britain has played a unique role in the affairs of West African countries by promoting democracy, intervening in civil conflicts, providing economic assistance and condemning human rights abuses in the region. References: Appiah, Kwame Anthony. In My Fathers House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Austin, Ralph. African Economic History: Internal Development and External Dependency. London: James Currey, 2003. Sachs, Jeffrey. The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time. New York: Penguin, 2005. Anyang Nyongo. Popular Struggles for Democracy in Africa. London: Zed, 2002 Barnes, Sandra. Patrons and Power: Creating a Political Community in Metropolitan Lagos. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003. Read More