US STRATCOM Foreign Media Analysis Program VOICES FROM AFRICA PERCEPTIONS OF THE US IN AFRICAN MEDIA

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US STRATCOMForeign Media Analysis
ProgramVOICES 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.
• AFRICOMs advent follows a pattern of
  extraordinary military expansion under George
  Bush it makes Chinas 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 its the
  US thats 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 dIvoire
• 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
  on
• the 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 Committees attempt to withhold
  200 million USD in military aid based on Egypts
  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
  to
• hosting 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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