The three main takeaways from this interview are: (1) Traditional peacekeeping operations in Africa are not really keeping the peace, as much as they provide cover for terrorists and local militias to blossom; (2) America, France, and UK have lost the political will and economic muscle needed to secure Africa’s natural resources, and this vacuum has been exploited quite cheaply by the Chinese; (3) Reuniting an African nation (eg Somalia) and dividing an African nation (eg Sudan) both are ostensibly for the purposes of peace, but in the end, always lead to war. So, war is inevitable across the continent during transitions in government power. Therefore, 2019, where we are expecting at least 10 African states to hold some sort of power transition, is going to be The Year of New Wars.

Osita Iroku
Brooklyn, N.Y.