Current Events 1 West Africa!

Foreign Relations

Through these articles we learn the different relations that West Africa has with other countries, including ones with in its own region. West Africa is a region that has had its share of warring between countries. In 1989 a war that broke out in Liberia moved into Sierra Leone and back, then fighting continued its way into Guinea. In 2001 the war branched out into Cote d'Ivoire and fighting continued there as well. The war has sense ended in Liberia and Sierra Leone but peace between these countries is not ideal and still considered very fragile. There is even more trouble in Cote d'Ivoire, where there is an unstable state between war and peace. Also the situation left in Guinea is no better with ex-combatants from the Liberian war are still living in the Guinea forest region. The relation between these countries are not benifical but west Africa also has relations with other countries that benefit it. West Africa has been making deals with China that could be beneficial to the both of them. China is looking into west Africa for its oil and gas as well as looking into lumber. China is a fast growing country in need of resources and west Africa is a struggling region that has the resources and in need of countries to exploit them. China may be blazing a trial that the United States and Europe might soon find themselves following in to try and distance themselves from there dependence on middle eastern oil. The US has actually took steps to try and form stronger commercial trading ties between them. The US signed a deal with eight west African countries who are part of the West African Economic Monetary Union that would hopefully increase trade and create many new jobs and investments that would benefit West Africa. The hunting of bush meat in Africa is also something that is effected by other countries. This is because the consumption of bush meat(like antelope, African wild dog, hyenas and other species) rises when the amount of fish declines. The fish amount declines due to the overfishing from Europe on the West African coast. Though campaigner's have argued that Europe has been pressuring West Africa into handing them these generous fishing licenses by tying them in with aid packages and loans, Europe has strongly denied it. There are other issues that also could have influence an increase in hunting instead of fishing and progress on these issues could help resolve this hunting problem.