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China in Somalia: Flexing the Bicep in the Zone

David James - 8/2/2007

China has sent shivers across the spines of major global economies after winning an oil exploration deal in the north of the war torn Somalia. But it is not such a surprise to corporate executives who might have foreseen the eminence of Chinese deal makers break in Somalia. The move was guaranteed and the results perfectly stashed in the duffel of Chinese Oil Company. A wake up call to the peace process brokers and the members of the European Union and the African Union.

The delicate situation in Somalia would easily be resolved through investments not selfish and self centre government backed corporate ventures as has been the case of the United States . America has covertly applied the outsourcing policy to attain its energy objectives by taming Somalia ’s lawlessness masterminds to acquire the expanse of the desert which is said to have oil deposits. American companies have already used the private military contractor Black Water to seek strategic partners in diversifying the interests of these companies. Black Water and some other private military contractors have sourced vital information, sought the confidence and friendship of TFG premier Ghedi forcing his repute to become a base of extremism.

Islamic insurgency has evolved through this policy of direct involvement of America in the Somalia issue. The exposure of Ethiopian intelligence liaison with the American intelligence and the assault on the resources of the Somali land stokes controversy while literally explaining why the US desperately tries to finance warlords to stem insurgency. The recommendations of Korean arms by American generals for the Ethiopian platoons in Somalia, the efforts by Chevron, Amoco and a horde of US companies to have oil concessions in the country and worse the American assault on Islamic Jihadist’s allied to Al Qaeda doesn’t auger well in the delicate country. This has been the wild card in the Chinese game. The Americans have their hands tied with un-pleasantries while the Chinese have goodies and implement able economic reforms whose long-term repercussions however hazardous are in order since they suffice to bring about peace and progress. China has flexed its muscle and is challenging the West’s clout in the third world and its approach towards peace reforms. China has incorporated workable ideologies for Somalia and similar areas. It perceives the notion of proffering long-term solutions rather than financial aid with strings attached, a policy African nations have sought after morosely. The West has to rethink its financial aide and grants policy to the third world urgently before the confidence reposed in it wanes.

In Somalia China will comfortably advice and restructure the Somali politics and industrial sector by adopting to play the advisor who doesn’t want to be paid but to earn his pay and get home and dry unlike the West who wants a permanent place in any of his ventures and interests. The China muscle in Somalia will get stronger with the possibility of its electricity companies taking on energy contracts in Somalia and the introduction of modern banking in Mogadishu will certainly edge out any hope of Americas efforts in the Somalia being a hazy dream.