It is now time to Shift Focus to the Gulf of Guinea region of
Africa.
Or to be more specific Nigeria. An Estimated 28% of the Oil Imported by the
United States comes from this Region.
Nigeria is a Key Ally of the United States as well. But there is a Problem
that Needs to be addressed.
Nigeria has a Problem with Oil. The Niger Delta region where the Oil is produced
is the poorest area of the Country. There is Massive Amounts of Economic Damages as well. An Insurgency has root due to the
Unwillingness of the Nigerian Federal Government to Meet their Grievances.
As a result the Insurgents use Sabatoge and Kidnappings to raise awareness
to their plights. They have even asked the United States to Mediate their Dispute with Abuja.
Currently Shell is in a New York Courtroom in a case that has been delayed
on more than one occasion for creating Environmental Damages in the Region and Complicity in Human Rights Violations. Shell
is facing charges that are made possible under the Alien Tort Claims Act which dates back to the Adams Administration.
In another interesting twist Senator Feingold the Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee African Sub-Committee has called for the Obama Administration to Intervene. What exactly the US
can do beyond Mediation is not easy to determine however.
President Obama will Meet with Nigerian Democracy Activists when He visits
Ghana on July 11th. This could be a Fact Finding Mission by the White House to Determine what Strategy that the US could take
in this Situation.
The Situations in both Uganda and Nigeria cannot be Ignored.
