McKenna Musci World Civ: Africa The cold war disrupted and undermined Africas new nations efforts,

sparked by the fear of Communist rule. The USSR, the USA, and African leaders were the key players in this new game; Africa being the pawn. Both the USSR and the USA played Africa to their advantage, but Africa didnt utilize the diplomatic advantage it had as a result. The USSR and the USA both wanted Africa for a strategic advantage for its natural resources and ally status. Ghana gained independence and shortly after, within a period of months, the country was in a state of turmoil. When they received their independence they were left to form their own stable government and constitution themselves. This was something that was not easy to do. Chaos broke out and spread throughout Africa when corrupt leaders came into power. The USSR offered aid and resources to Africa including free military equipment and sophisticated weapons, while the United States stepped back and turned their cheek. When the United States realized this, they in turn sought to gain allies in Africa by providing more weapons and supporting corrupt leaders. They saw the help from the Soviet Union as a threat to world security and peace. Free military equipment made the war cheaper and last longer, causing extreme damage to Africas infrastructure. Africas leaders were reaping the benefits of both the USSR and the USA, while the citizens in the different countries suffered. The US supported leaders like this, such as Mobuto in the Congo. He seized power in 1965 and was seen as a pro western dictator, therefore receiving much aid from the United States. In turn, Mobuto stripped his country of natural

resources and wealth. Not only did the United States support corrupt dictators, but they were also involved in the assassination of others. Lumumba of the Congo spoke up against the Cold War, saying that he wanted no part in it. In turn, he was later assassinated supposedly with the help of the CIA. Africa was full of killings, a failing economy, and corrupt leaders. In turn for playing the pawn between the USA and USSR, Africa received some benefits. These included cheap loans, technical assistance, and most importantly diplomatic leverage. Technical assistance included engineers and doctors, and the military aid freed African budgets for other social spending. Unfortunately, that also had cons. The low cost of the war prolonged it, and the sophisticated weapons just led to more damage to the infrastructure. Africa could have used its diplomatic leverage to its advantage, but I do not think they did so. The aid they received in no way helped the economy, as countries were being run by corrupt dictators. Peace treaties were harder to achieve, superpowers had to agree to any peace deal thus prolonging the war even longer. In Conclusion, I think that African leaders that went along with the superpowers were hardly at fault. I think they were in the wrong place and the wrong time, and at a very weak point in their history after recently gaining independence. We refer to the Cold War as the cold war because it was a war that Africa was fighting on behalf of the US and USSR. Africa was played by both sides against each other. Even so, one cannot fully blame either the US or the USSR for this. Each country is after its own self-interest and that of its citizens. Every player in this game is at some fault for the destruction and demise, but I would say that the USA

and USSR are most at fault. Africa was in a very fragile state, and was used as a battleground to fight a war that wasnt theirs.