Issue #1

WHAT IF¹

European colonization of Africa began in the 1870’s as European empires became interested in Africa’s resources. The Berlin Conference of 1884/85 was a three-month gathering of European empires who were in the process of taking Africa’s resources. They negotiated, amongst themselves, control over Africa’s Congo and Niger Rivers. These negotiations, and the ones that followed, formalized the process of European colonization of Africa.

The document produced from this conference claims that the well-being of the tribes and peoples living Africa was of great importance to the empires.² However, no African people were invited to this conference; and the new colonial boundaries disregarded pre-existing African cultural, linguistic, and political boundaries.³

TRUE STORY⁴⁵

AFRICOM was established in 2007 under the Bush presidency. Headquartered in Germany, it oversees US military activity all over the continent of Africa. (4)

Finding the exact number of US military bases or outposts on the continent of Africa is challenging. It is not information that is readily available to the public, or even to the US Congress for that matter.

AFRICOM Chief Michael Langley told Congress in March of 2023 that the US military operates out of two “enduring” locations and 12 “posture locations” with “minimal permanent US presence.”⁶ However, The Intercept obtained military documents (via the Freedom of Information Act) that share conflicting information. These 2019 planning documents site locations for 29 bases in 15 different countries or territories. (5)

The Intercept writes: “Since the plans were created, according to AFRICOM spokesperson John Manley, two bases have been shuttered, leaving the U.S. with an archipelago of 15 “enduring locations” and 12 less-permanent “contingency locations.” The documents note, however, that AFRICOM is actively seeking to enhance its presence and is primed for expansion in the future.” (5)