The Militant (logo)  
   Vol. 68/No. 29           August 10, 2004  
 
 
Pretoria may allow U.S. military to train its troops
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BY T.J. FIGUEROA  
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—Pretoria is considering a U.S. government proposal to train and equip 2,000 South African soldiers. The first public news of this development broke July 17, when outgoing U.S. ambassador to South Africa Cameron Hume told Reuters, “We are talking with the South African government about helping to train and equip two additional battalions to expand the number of forces they have available for peacekeeping.” He suggested such an agreement was imminent. Officials from South Africa’s defense ministry refused to comment on the report. Hume made the remarks while observing “Operation Medflag.” This was a joint U.S.-South African military medical services exercise in Limpopo province, involving hundreds of air force personnel and military medics from both countries.

The South African government has deployed about 1,400 troops to Burundi and a similar number in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of international “peacekeeping” operations in Africa’s volatile Great Lakes region. “These operations are expensive, so this kind of help is significant,” said one unnamed South African military official, according to Reuters.

“I think if you asked the South African military they would say they were very stretched,” Hume told reporters. “We are talking about a modest but not insignificant increase in their capacities….material and training.” He also suggested that there could soon be a resumption of arms sales between the two governments.

A July 19 report carried by the South African Press Association stated, “A source familiar with the talks [said] the U.S. has spent the last eight years attracting South Africa’s interest to their African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (Acota) program. Acota is a U.S. State Department-coordinated program that works with African states to improve peace support operations and humanitarian assistance capabilities.” Governments that have taken part in this program include those of Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, and Senegal.

Pretoria has expanded its military cooperation with Washington in recent years, including in joint operations.

While cloaking its goals in humanitarian rhetoric, Washington increasingly sees Africa as a theatre for military operations. This is part and parcel of U.S. government efforts to replace Paris as a dominant power on the continent—particularly in the former colonies of francophone West Africa.

U.S. officials have also identified Africa as a place where Washington will wage operations against “terrorist” groups such as al-Qaeda. Part of this strategy involves securing “forward operating locations” without setting up permanent bases. Washington also plans to use proxy forces to defend its interests when this is deemed expedient.  
 
 
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