On Thursday, according to reports from the Associated Press, the Russian foreign minister told the world to forget Georgian sovereignty. This was on the same day American planes transported aid to wounded refugees in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Russia made it known that it was deeply concerned American planes were transporting more than aid. The conflict in the former soviet-Russian territories begun when Georgia carried out operations in its separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abhakazia with intentions of neutralising the pro-separatist Russo-phones in those regions. Russia intervened with force to prevent the pro-West Georgian regime of Mikheil Saakshvili from regaining an upper hand in the separatist areas. When Georgia emerged as an independent state following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in the early nineties, South Ossetia and Abhakazzia became part of What if Russia heads back to Africa?Georgia. However, Soviet nostalgia remained in those provinces and separatists have shown resistance with the tacit and sometimes overt support from Russia. It is apparent that ever since the former soviet era KGB operatives under Vladimir Putin took the reigns of power in the Kremlin, a return to the status quo where Russia was a major international world player only rivaled by the United States has been on the agenda. Putin as president and now as Russian premier has always been said to have a Soviet era world view. Putin with his inner circle of former KGB macho men and his handpicked successor, Dmitri Medvedev, clearly wants to restore Russian glory and global hegemony. So as Russia disregards the opinions of the West and reasserts itself in its backyard, one wonders what will happen in the future. Will it seek a return to the third world and Africa for that matter? It will be recalled that Russia was the leader of the Eastern bloc during the Cold War with China as a principal ally despite their differences. The Cold War played out in developing countries with several African states playing host to cold war politics, much to the detriment of the continent. Many of the endless wars in Africa in the last century were by-products of Cold War politics. At the moment Western powers like the US, UK, and France to mention but three have a visible presence in Africa. On the side of what used to be the Eastern bloc, China is the only power with a visible presence on the continent. It has asserted itself economically and has been at times accused of looking the other way as governments like the Islamist regime in Khartoum engage in what has been described as genocide in Darfur. Its economic interest in oil and other resources have been said to override humanitarian issues. It is easy and logical to conclude that with the character of the regime in the Moscow based Kremlin, it is a question when rather than if Russia will seek a sphere of influence in Africa. What does such portend for Africa?When the interests of the West and the re-emerging East cross paths in Africa, they will most likely leave conflict in their wake. At least that is what history tells us and when one takes a look at global politics or even domestic politics of many state, it is easy to conclude that few players ever care to learn from history. One only need look to the endless conflicts in many parts of the globe for proof. Moreover, the competition for resources in Africa will see major powers like Russia and China not to mention the Western powers jostling for control. It is obvious that there is no lack of political demagogues who are willing to grab such opportunities. This in effect sets us on the path towards war. With global power politics playing out on the continent we are likely to see new players emerge on the scene to play the roles that were in the past played by the Savimbis, Mobutus and Mengistus of the Cold War era. Contact:frank2kagabo@yahoo.com
