The Current President of the United States is a Lame Duck. This
is a term that means He will be taking actions that will shore up
his Legacy. Or even take steps that will change how both the World
at Large and the Citizens of the United States view how he lead
the last 8 years.
Currently the President is on a Week Long Goodwill visit to
Africa. The stated purpose of this trip is to see how PEFAR
(Presidential Emergency Funds For AIDS Relief) is working, to
Generate New Economic Contacts and to see how Democracy is working
in several Nations. The situations in both Darfur and in Kenya
were sure to be brought up as He made his trip.
So Imagine His suprise when MEND (Movement for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta) sent the President of the United States a
letter. This was not an Ordinary Letter However. It had a request
for Assistance. The Group was asking the Outgoing President of the
United States to Mediate their Dispute with the Nigerian Federal
Government in Abuja. And what they were asking for wasn't anything
to be taken lightly either.
Now various Experts will debate whether or not that MEND are
Terrorists or Insurgents. After all they have attacked both
Nigerian Government Outposts and the Oil Facilities of several
Major Multi-National Companies in recent years. They Have
Kidnapped Foreign Oil Workers as well to raise awareness for their
plight. The Niger Delta Region Generates Income for the Nigerian
Economy but few Dollars are Invested in the Region unless they are
used for the Development of the Petroleum Industry.
The Reason that MEND is asking for the Mediation of the United
States is plain to see even to the casual observer. The Group
simply does not believe that the Current Nigerian Government will
act in Good Faith. Based on this belief they made their Proposal
to the President. After all having a Third Party broker
negotiations can yield positive results in a much shorter time
than having direct contacts between parties in conflict.
So what is the proposal that the Group made? Basically the
Group wants their leader freed from Jail in Angola so he can
Negotiate on their behalf. Then they make some Key Demands and
Concessions in their proposal. In exchange for Their starting a
Cease-Fire that will lead to a Possible Disarming the Delta Region
as a whole if the Nigerian Government agrees to it. But there is
one Interesting Aspect of the Proposal that the Rebels are
bringing forward.
The Rebels would like Greater Transparency in how funds are
transferred from Abuja to both State and Local Governments in the
Region. Poverty is a real problem and there have been some
complaints of corruption in all Levels of Government. They would
like to see an increase in funds to alleviate some of the Problems
that plague the residents of the region such as Poor Health Care
and Potable Water. Another Potential Issue is the Economic Damage
caused by Oil Exploration in the region.
President Bush could take on this task to further promote the
Interests of the US. Security in the Gulf of Guniea region is
Paramount to US Interests and not just for Oil. Both Drug and
Human Trafficking are becoming Major Problems in the Region.
Liberia is reemerging after a decade of Civil Conflict and Al-Qaida
has struck at Targets in Regional Neighbors such as Mauritania. So
if the US can have a positive influence on a situation of Internal
Strife then the US should take it. This should be done for good
will however and not for the Legacy of a President however.
