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George Woloshyn's avatar

Wonderful piece, Diane! The situation is even worse than you outlined. You stopped at the point where in Russia - through the Wagner group - has, in fact, taken control of huge chunks of Africa , the means by which they have done so and the mayhem they have created.

But African countries are especially fragile and prone to victimization because they also lack the ability to resist or to overthrow an armed, brutal, well-planned, and disciplined foreign invasion and take-over of their states. Tribal loyalties are generally far more important than "national" loyalties;"democratic" traditions are unknown or have barely taken root; "civic activism" is non-existent; "rule of law" is understood to mean whatever the group in power demands and enforces; educational opportunities and exposure to the world beyond their borders are very limited; and their governments are in business simply to perpetuate their rule and exploit their citizens. In short their "auto-immune" ability to resist the sort of hostile foreign disease that is inflicted by the Wagner group is very low and treatment very difficult.

Once this foreign infection takes over the host - these nations will have great difficulty - without foreign intervention - freeing themselves.

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Ross's avatar

You thought the Soviet Union was a menace: at least they played by some global rules. Russia, as well documented by Diane Francis and others, is a criminal kleptocracy that will continue to exploit African leaders who care not about their people, but maintaining corrupt regimes.

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