In this issue:

U.S. Base Established in Southern Algeria

U.S. Presidential Delegation in Algeria

'Dirty Peace' in Algeria To Consolidate Synarchists' Victory in Dirty War

U.S.-Inspired Anti-Terrorism Conference in Khartoum

Unity Government Formed in Sudan

From Volume 4, Issue Number 39 of EIR Online, Published Sept. 27, 2005
Africa News Digest

U.S. Base Established in Southern Algeria

The U.S. has established a base in southern Algeria, near Tamanrasset, housing 400 Special Forces troops, ostensibly for combatting terrorism, according to La Canard Enchaine July 27. The article claims that the base has equipment capable of capturing communications by telephone (mobile and landline), satellite, and fax throughout Subsaharan Africa. Reports on the construction of the base had earlier appeared in some Algerian newspapers, but were denied by the Algerian government and the U.S. Ambassador to Algeria in March 2004. La Canard is quoted by Liberte (Algeria) Aug. 1.

The rationale for U.S. military interest in the Sahel and the Sahara—that they provide a good refuge for terrorists—is obviously false (they much prefer London, Paris, or Rome). This Cheneyite venture develops capability for more consequential thrusts in Southwest Asia now being planned, and could be used to keep a flood of desperate Subsaharan Africans from reaching Europe.

U.S. Presidential Delegation in Algeria

A U.S. Presidential delegation in Algeria Aug. 18-19, led by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, included Gen. James Jones, Commander of EUCOM and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Algeria's El Watan Aug. 18, in covering the visit in an article titled, "Toward a Strategic Partnership," claimed that the project for so-called "peace and reconciliation" of President Bouteflika and the Algerian generals has "the major part in determining how closely the U.S. will attend to a country that counts as one source of energy security." El Watan refers to President Bush's "many conversations" with Bouteflika and Bush's constant emphasis on the importance of Algeria's anti-terrorist experience—namely, the generals' experience in prosecuting the dirty war of the 1990s.

'Dirty Peace' in Algeria To Consolidate Synarchists' Victory in Dirty War

The Algerian synarchist coup of the 1990s, carried out in a dirty war by army figures who had once fought for the French against Algerian independence, is now to be consolidated by a "dirty peace." A referendum prepared by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for Sept. 29 is a vote on his "Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation" to "enable Algerians to put a bloody past behind them." The charter will exonerate the killers and torturers in the army and those who directed them, forbidding investigation of their crimes. Reuters claimed Sept. 11 that the largest parties support a "yes" vote.

Bouteflika got Gen. (ret.) Larbi Belkheir out of sight by appointing him Ambassador to Morocco Aug. 23. Belkheir ran the dirty operation of the 1990s from behind the scenes as head of the Presidential cabinet. And some of Belkheir's key associates in crime—now aging—have been induced to resign or retire since then. That this could be done without a protest from "strongman" Belkheir (as it has), indicates just how pliable he has been in the hands of his international synarchist controllers from the beginning.

Key Algerians issued a statement Sept. 20 titled, "Not in our name, Monsieur Bouteflika," denouncing Bouteflika's charter as an attempt at a "dirty peace," and declaring that the authentic consolidation of peace requires truth and justice. Signators include former Army officers Habib Souaidia and Col. Mohamed Samraoui—both crucial in exposing the dirty war; former Prime Minister Abdelhamid Brahimi; and the former vice president of Sonatrach (the state oil company), Hocine Malti.

U.S.-Inspired Anti-Terrorism Conference in Khartoum

A U.S.-inspired East African conference on fighting terrorism was held in Khartoum Sept. 21-22. Most of the conference was held behind closed doors, but the opening was televised throughout Sudan. Officially, CIA officials were only present as observers. Other observers included British and Chinese intelligence representatives. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, both Vice Presidents, and security chief Gen. Salah Abdullah spoke. The State Department still lists the government of Sudan as a sponsor of terrorism.

Unity Government Formed in Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced Sept. 21 the formation of a government of national unity in line with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the former Bashir government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement signed in January. According to IRIN, Bashir's National Congress Party retained 16 of 29 ministries, including the energy, finance, and interior ministries. The SPLM had striven to obtain the energy (oil) or finance portfolio. It obtained the foreign ministry and eight other portfolios.

The Monitor, a Khartoum newspaper that expresses a southern point of view, responded to this news by calling for Salva Kiir, the southern leader who is now First Vice President, to step down. Other southern reactions are not yet known.

President Bush welcomed the formation of the government.

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