DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=AFRICA / ARMS
NUMBER=5-44624
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Arms sales doubled last year in Sub-Saharan
Africa, according to a study by a London-based
research center. London Correspondent Laurie Kassman
takes a closer look at the International Institute for
Strategic Studies' analysis of the world military
balance.
TEXT: The Strategic Studies Institute's numbers are
not reassuring: Sub-Saharan Africa last year accounted
for more than half the world's armed conflicts.
Three-fourths of the region's countries are fighting
battles at home or across their borders.
That has translated into increased armed sales from
outside the region. China, Russia, and Eastern Europe
have supplied mostly light weapons, small arms, and
ammunition.
But the Institute says the trade also includes
advanced weapons systems and second-hand conventional
equipment. I-I-S-S researchers also tracked the sale
of combat aircraft last year from Russia, Belarus, and
Ukraine to Eritrea and Ethiopia.
One of the report's editors, Terry Taylor, says Iran
and Libya have also joined the market.
/// TAYLOR ACT ///
They are supplying into the Sudan and Horn of
Africa in those countries where there is an
Islamic context to the conflict.
/// END ACT ///
The research center has also traced Libyan financial
assistance to Zimbabwe.
///TAYLOR SECOND ACT///
In fact, we have reports that clearly indicate
that Libya has been giving financial support to
Zimbabwe in deploying its forces into the
Democratic Republic of Congo in support of the
Kabila government there. So there is quite a
strong link between those two countries.
///END ACT///
The I-I-S-S report suggests Zimbabwe gains lucrative
mineral rights in return for that effort.
Mr. Taylor says many weapons also come from within the
region.
///TAYLOR THIRD ACT///
There is a very large internal market in Africa,
as many of these light weapons are in the market
for years, for decades and they change hands and
then are concentrated in those areas where major
conflicts are happening -- in the Horn of
Africa, Central Africa, Angola, and the like.
/// END ACT ///
Weapons sales also mean a profitable business for
black marketers. Mr. Taylor acknowledges the report's
statistics only reflect official defense spending for
Africa -- which totaled nearly 10-billion dollars in
1998. He estimates that amount would be doubled if
black market sales were included.
The consequence of increased military spending usually
means less for social welfare reforms. The I-I-S-S
report says Ethiopia's costly war with Eritrea is
reflected in the increased military budget this year -
- roughly four-times the total for 1998.
Analyst Terry Taylor warns that international lending
institutions like the International Monetary Fund and
the World Bank need to tighten controls on loans and
credits to discourage that trend.
///TAYLOR FOURTH ACT///
I Am not saying in every case that this is money
misspent, but nevertheless there has been rather
gross cases of international funds being
disbursed on weapons and in some instances
fueling or sustaining a conflict longer than it
might have taken place otherwise.
/// END ACT ///
Despite the upward trend in weapons sales, Mr. Taylor
points to what he calls beacons of hope -- Nigeria and
South Africa. He cites their democratic reforms and
involvement in regional peace efforts as encouraging
signs.
The global strategic review also points to peace
efforts in the West African states Mali, Liberia, and
most recently Sierra Leone as positive developments
aimed at resolving conflicts and discouraging the
expansion of weapons markets in Africa. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE/RAE
27-Oct-1999 11:05 AM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1505 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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