Mali, Algeria – what’s next?
| Ilya Kharlamov | 18.01.2013, 19:45 |
 | Officially, the Algerian army assault to free the BP gas field hostages is over but some say that anti-terrorist raids continue in the area. The West once put a stake on force and political manipulation in Africa and that’s what it has now got. The French anti-insurgent operation in Mali triggered a predictable reaction of the latter’s neighbors and Al-Qaeda linked militants captured hundreds of hostages at the In Amenas gas facility. At least four foreign workers died when troops stormed the site on Thursday.France’s neo-colonial claims (quite surprising for the 21st century) added oil to the African fire and the recent events showed how volatile the region is – one inconsiderate move can cause bloodshed across the entire area. Source: Voice of Russia. |
Said Gafurov, expert in Oriental Studies, believes that Paris acted thoughtlessly.
"By assisting Mali, France is widening the gap between the people of Mali and the rest of the world. French bombings and killings will cause serious aftermaths and the situation is very likely to follow the Afghan scenario. After Libya, the West empowered France as an order settler so Paris is free to apply the Libyan pattern to African countries. The EU, on its part, admits that it mostly cares about protecting its companies in Africa neglecting what locals think."
The Algeria hostage crisis showed that instability in Africa is more than a local problem. The hostage-takers were nationals of Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and even France and Canada. They came to take revenge for Mali from Libya, where the West boasts of having an efficient democracy. This is a perfect example of the West-imposed globalization in the Muslim World.
The gas plant attack was well prepared and quite symbolic. BP oil giant is perceived as something alien and evil coming from the West. Al-Qaeda had already threatened Algerians who worked for foreign companies.