Scott A. Morgan
Scott Morgan is a Human Rights Activist and Commentor on US Policy in Africa.
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Articles by Scott A. Morgan
January 10, 2008
If one Judges the reactions from Around the World after the recent Elections in Kenya the proper phrase that can used is "State of Shock." This Election Cycle was one of the most contested in the History of Kenya. The Turnout was reported ...
December 05, 2007
While most of the World is paying attention to the Mission to Ethiopia currently be undertaken by Secretary of State Rice there is another mission underway that will just as much impact. This other mission which also deals with potential Peace and Security Issues has not garnered the Press of the Ri...
December 05, 2007
We all remember what happened back in the 1990s. In Sierra Leone and Angola insurgents financed their rebellions by mining illicit diamonds. In Angola the UNITA movement used the trade after both South Africa and the United States ceased their assistance. In the case of Sierra Leone it was a way for...
December 03, 2007
The last few months have been an interesting time in the area known as the Casamance Region. Earlier this year the Army of Guniea-Bissau launched an Offensive that drove one Faction of the MFDC (Movement of the Democratic Forces of the Casamanc...
November 02, 2007
Over the last few weeks the Internal Climate within the landlocked impoverished West African State of Niger has taken a substantial turn for the worse. At least that is what the few sketchy details that are allowed to eminate from the country state or those who have been able to leave the country ha...
October 29, 2007
In an concerted effort to reign in the Spiraling Violence in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo the US will train the Congolese Military. This is according to testimony in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by ...
October 22, 2007
It has only been in Operation for a little more than a fortnight and the newest part of the US Military Command Structure is already testing its readiness. The situation should prove beneficial to both supporters and skeptics of AFRICOM and US Policy towards Africa in General. It will also show how ...
October 12, 2007
The last couple of weeks have not been beneficial to the Peace Process in Darfur. And the pattern indicates that the situation will not improve in the near future. Over the last few weeks the situation took a drastic turn for the worse. Several African Union Peacekeepers were killed when rebels over...
October 11, 2007
The current pace of negotiations to resolve the internal strife within Zimbabwe is not fast enough at least one African President Believes. His views are so strong that he will be in Harare before the end of October to see if he can do what others have failed to do so far. That is bring the ruling Z...
October 01, 2007
Recently a Nigerian Newspaper ran an Editorial that criticized American Foreign Policy. This has been the rule not the exception since the Bush Administration took office in 2001. The litany of criticism has run from the on again off again intervention in the Horn of Africa to imposing sanctions on ...
September 25, 2007
If recent Statements by Current Undersecretary of State Frazier are indictative of US policy goals then Washington is preparing to involve itself in some of the trouble spots in Central and East Africa. And in at least one trouble spot the Military Option is on the table. This step in itself is unu...
August 13, 2007
The recent murder of Chauncey Bailey a Newspaper Editor on the Streets of Oakland, California in broad daylight had the Mainstream Media here in the United States howling. One reason was that Mr. Bailey was murdered for the Investigation of a local business that his newspaper had underway. But there...
August 06, 2007
They have been used in Northern Uganda for two decades sometimes against their will. Those who wish to avoid being forcefully conscripted have to flee their home in the Middle of the Night and sleep in Urban Areas to remain safe. Their use has been documented in Sierra Leone, Liberia and even in the...
August 01, 2007
We all noticed last fall when the American Voters decidely threw out an Incompetent Republican Congress and replaced them with the Democrats. But it is becoming clear that if WE expected a change in how things are run in Washington we were sadly mistaken.
Like in the last Republican controlled Co...
July 27, 2007
As Part of its efforts to reform the structure within the Pentagon it has been decided that the United States will give African Concerns their own command. When the new Fiscal Year begins this fall the Command will officially begin and will have a permanent base in Germany for now.
What is causin...
July 25, 2007
In Mid-July the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing that could bode well for the future of US Relations with Africa. One of the facts that will widely be underreported is that the report was given by a gentleman from the State Department with over 30 years experience and is preparing t...
July 16, 2007
The voices that are crying out for peace in the long suffering country of Somalia are in danger of being drowned out by the Sabers that are rattling in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. And sadly the world is not paying attention to either problem.
The on again off again effo...
July 15, 2007
The voices that are crying out for peace in the long suffering country of Somalia are in danger of being drowned out by the Sabers that are rattling in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. And sadly the world is not paying attention to either problem.
...
June 23, 2007
Currently there is growing angst in the International Community over the deterioration in Darfur. The Gamesmanship currently being used by the authorities in Khartoum would make the author of the Prince and Discourses a proud gentleman. If one needs an example one only needs to look at the actions ...
June 11, 2007
The United States has once again been asked to decide the outcome of an African Crisis. But instead of the State Department or the Pentagon making the decision the investigating body will be the Central Intelligence Agency.
The request for intervention in this matter of t...
May 31, 2007
While the focus of the mainstream media in the US has their current focus on the status of the funding of the Iraq war and the new deal on Immigration there are two bills that are currently under the radar but could yield great importance towards US policy towards Africa.
...
May 05, 2007
In the last 45 days the Main Political Opposition in Zimbabwe has traveled outside the country to raise awareness of their plights back in Zimbabwe. One mission did travel to North America as well.
The trip to UN Headquarters has been documented by the International Media bu...
April 29, 2007
The Current Military Operations in Mogadishu which has led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians as a result of the violence may be uncovering another potential conflict of interests.
Recently the US Undersecretary of State for African Affair...
March 14, 2007
There is an underlying problem within Somalia. Most pundits don’t refer to it when they discuss the issue on TV. Nor do the African Specialists when they brief their home Governments. The question is easy to ask but the answer has everyone scratching their heads. The question is what will be the sta...
March 09, 2007
It is the time of year for the US State Department to once again issue its annual report of Human Rights around the world. This document which has painstaking research and often first hand accounts of various crises is one of the most widely read reports and will be the subject of criticism. Some of...
March 03, 2007
In the last couple of weeks the United States has made some critical statements regarding two crises that do not appear to have any sign of being resolved soon.
First of all in Zimbabwe the US Condemn the banning of all forms of protest in the Capital of Harare for 90 Days. This step came after ...
February 14, 2007
Once again there are mixed signals eminating from the tragic situation in Darfur. It seems as if the more that the World tries to seriously address the situation the more Khartoum tries to shield itself from the scrutiny.
The facts of the crisis are now the following. Thousands of people have be...
February 09, 2007
The year has barely begun and already the United States has a victory by Proxy in Africa. Although the Islamist Militias have been defeated in Somalia chaos does remain in charge in that part of the Horn of Africa. But Washington is casting a glance on another part of Africa in...
February 02, 2007
The Mainstream Media has their collective blinders on again. Once again there are American Military Personell that are in Harm's Way. And it appears that they either don't care or don't want to know. And the thing is that it is the scene of a prior embarassing incident.
There was a feeling of Gen...
January 29, 2007
As the situation within Somalia stabilizes the eyes of the World turn towards two past crises that have the chance to flare up again. Sadly both of these situations are in Africa again.
The first potential flashpoint is the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Both countries have a violent histor...
January 23, 2007
The previous week was a tumultous for the Ugandan Peace Process currently underway in Juba,Sudan. After President Al-Bashir of Sudan stated that he wanted the LRA out of his country ,the rebel movement stated that Sudan was not Neutral and wanted the talks moved out the Country on that basis. Two of...
January 18, 2007
For a week now the Labor Unions in Guniea have taken action. They are seeking a change in the direction in the Government of that impoverished state in West Africa. What is most concerning is that most Foreign Observers agree with the assessment of the Opposition.
Guniea has been ruled by Preside...
January 16, 2007
The Horn of Africa has appeared on the radar of many specialists. Most have been watching with awe as the Ethiopian Military has assisted the Somali Transitional Government move its base from Baidoa to Mogadishu. But what about the other source of tensions for Addis Ababa?
One of the fears that s...
January 16, 2007
By all accounts the Christmas Offensive by the Ethiopian Military in Somalia has been such a success that it has suprised several people.
Recent Airstrikes by US Military Aircraft against sites that are considered to be Al-Qaida camps in the South of Somalia have generated bad press for the Unite...
January 11, 2007
Earlier this week ABC News ran an Investigative report concerning the violence currently plaguing the Niger Delta region in Southern Nigeria. The initial reason was that the Insurgents were threatening to create gasoline to be sold at $6 a gallon.
The item seemed to indicate that the violence tha...
January 09, 2007
One of the most underused quotes by Napeleon is that four hostile newspapers are to be feared more than thousands of bayonets. It appears that the rulers in Harare believe that hostile newspapers should be silenced by any means necessary.
Any means necessary is a wide ranging concept. In the past...
January 02, 2007
President Bush has to congratulate the Ethiopian Military. After all their Christmas 2006 Offensive in Support of the Transitional Government in Somalia may have given him his largest Foreign Policy Victory since the Invasion of Iraq.
In the last few days the Transitional Government has set up po...
December 28, 2006
A tumultous year for both Somalia and Ethiopia looks like it will end with a Transitional Government in Mogadishu placed there by Ethiopian Arms.
After spending most of the year defeating secular militias that had the backing of the United States the Union of Islamic Courts appears to have overpl...
December 21, 2006
On November 14th through the 17 of this Past year a unique conference was held in Africa. The meeting had one purpose to be resolved. That is the security of the Gulf of Guniea region.
One has to ask why would the main superpower in the world pay attention to this region. Well the planners in bot...
December 19, 2006
Currently the US Central Command is the busiest part of the Pentagon and US Military. With Responsiblities from the Persian Gulf down to East Africa this means it has the most American Forces in Harms way.
But recently the Media in Kenya have been reporting an unique trend. The residents of North...
December 14, 2006
Last Month the American People spoke with one clear statement. The Statement was that We the People do not like the direction our Foreign Policy is heading. And they took the necessary steps they felt that needed to be made.
So while some will be pleased with the new gridlock which was the Status...
December 08, 2006
Shortly the tenure of the Secretary-General of the United Nations will close. So how will the efforts of Mr. Annan be seen by those who have the interests of Africa at heart?
Well in a region where Democracy and respect for Human Rights are hit or miss at best the stewardship of Mr. Annan can be ...
December 04, 2006
The last few months have not been a pleasant time for the Republicans. After an embarrasing defeat in the polls in November and the resignation of the Secretary of Defense there is now word of another member of the administration leaving. This time its the Ambassador to the United Nations.
Depend...
November 28, 2006
By all accounts the situation in Somalia is not improving. The escalating rhetoric and violence have been compounded by monsoon type rainfall. This is just another factor that may determine whether or not a full blown war will break out in Somalia.
Now the interests of the United States have been...
November 25, 2006
Despite a downturn in Relations following the US Invasion if Iraq in 2003 it is becoming clear that Paris and Washington have some objectives in Africa that suit the interests of each power.
One of the areas that there is a spirit of Cooperation is the situation with the potential of Iran acquiri...
November 21, 2006
With the recent victory that has swept them into power the Democrats have been recieving messages of support and congratulations from an unlikely source. They have come from Africa.
Whether or not they are a branch of the ruling party or the political Opposition. Even if they are Politically Inde...
November 13, 2006
We have been hearing that on November 7th the American People voted for a change in the Direction of the Foreign Policy of the Country. The results were that the Democrats are now in control of the Congress of the United States.
We have heard that the US needs a new direction now. But what about ...
November 09, 2006
It appears that recent events in Darfur have not only been timed to react to the recent Congressional Elections but also to be seen as a Diversion.
In Chad rebel forces again have again launched an offensive to drive out the Government. Earlier this year they managed to reach the outskirts of the...
November 02, 2006
The facts that the current peace negotiations between the Federal Transitional Government in Somalia and the resurgent Union of Islamic Courts are in a state flux and the US State Department issuing a Travel Alert for both Ethiopia and Kenya are indicating that a major conflict is about to erupt in ...
October 26, 2006
The World has watched with both frustration and shock as Zimbabwe has imploded for the last six years. The frustration comes from the unwillingness of its neighbors to address the situation. The Frustration comes as the most likely causes for unity themselves are divided.
There have been reports ...
October 23, 2006
Recently in Washington, D.C. A group of concerned Americans including students,clergy and academics met to discuss the tragic situation in Northern Uganda. This is the longest running conflict currently in Africa. thousands have perished and over a million people have been displaced. One aspect of ...
October 21, 2006
It is obvious that US Policy in East Africa hinges on the restoration of a Functioning Government in Somalia. There is a preference that it is not by the Union of Islamic Courts who prefer to set up a Fundamentalist Islamic State.
The US has organized a regional contact group on Somalia. One fact...
October 18, 2006
On October 9th and 10th a group of concerned Americans gathered in Washington,D. C. This gathering of Students, Members of the Clergy and the Academic World discussed the tragic situation unfolding in Northern Uganda over the last 20 years.
One of areas of discussion was the use of child soldiers.
...
October 10, 2006
On October 9th and 10th a committed group of activists met in Washington, D.C. to raise their concern over an issue that many feel does not see enough scrutiny here in the United States. This group met together in a training session and the next day made their concerns over the situation in...
September 05, 2006
The supporters of Al-Qaida and their supporters and colleagues in the upper Nile Basin must realize that they may soon be in a target-rich environment. They are having a currently successful campaign to consolidate their power within Somalia. Reports indicate that the Government of Eritrea is curr...
August 23, 2006
The US General who happens to be in charge of America's military strategy in Africa made a unique statement while in Washington recently. In town to brief Congress about military strategy and operations he stated that the United States walks away from the seemingly never ending strife there at its o...
August 18, 2006
The World watched with both wonder and scrutiny as the Democratic Republic of the Congo had a fully contested election with multi-party candidates. Although there were monitors from both the UN and Europe there were scattered reports of violence but there is nothing more inspiring than watching the ...
July 03, 2006
The House of Representatives International Relations committee approved a bill this week that addresses various Human Rights concerns in Ethiopia. This is a huge step as Ethiopia is considered to be an ally of the United States in the War on Terror.
Human Rights Activists and others have been con...
May 17, 2006
After recent events in East Africa it is becoming quite clear that a segment of the United States Central Command may be the most crucial element in the future. The command is the CJTF-HOA (Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa). This command has an area of operations that includes Ethiopia, Eri...
May 01, 2006
There is a consensus among the Strategists in the Pentagon that the Conventional Forces of the United States are stretched to thin to take on another task due to the strife and rebuilding efforts in both Afganistan and Iraq.
The brain trust currently believes that in the near future that the next ...
April 10, 2006
In Recent weeks the Government of Uganda has been involved in some unique diplomacy. Some of these actions have concerned several Governments and some feel that the potential backlash could have Uganda resembling Zimbabwe.
Recently there has been a rise in tensions with neighboring Rwanda. This st...
April 03, 2006
Recently IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) had its 11th annual summit in Nairobi Kenya. This group which is comprised of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda met to discuss several crucial issues to the development of the region.
The main problems in the re...
March 26, 2006
Since winning a controversial third term as President of Uganda Mr. Museveni and his supporters have been tightening their hold on the affairs of the country. First of all they have renegotiated the understanding with Sudan that allows for both countries to conduct counterinsurgency operations again...
March 15, 2006
The Congressional Human Rights Caucus recently took steps to address a growing problem in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. The bi-partisan lobby had a two- day series of briefings on concerns regarding the situation in Northern Uganda. This crisis is a situation that has seen very little scrutiny b...
March 08, 2006
Kofi Annan has to wonder what is going on. There has been mixed signals from the Various UN Missions in New York regarding the Human Rights Council and he has to be concerned.
At a Press Conference last week at UN headquarters the Secretary-General announced that erstwhile America...
March 03, 2006
It appears that the situation in the Niger Delta is being more closely by the Pentagon than anyone has admitted to. At least that is what the militants in the region have stated to newspapers in Nigeria in a Press Release.
Over the last few weeks insurgent forces under the ba...