Politics

The Origin of the Modern Day Suicide Bomber

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

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The modern day suicide bomber owes his origin to the kamikaze pilots of World War II. A suicide bomber performs a terrorist attack by blowing himself up, by self or in a transport vehicle. The first occurrence of recorded Islamic terrorism by suicide bombing occurred in 1981, when Kurdish rebels targeted the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. However, it was the three bombings in 1983 that brought to international attention the lethality of the suicide bomber. The infamous 1983 suicide bombings were: Hezbollah’s bombing of the U.S. embassy in April 1983, attack on United States Marine and French barracks in October 1983. Nevertheless, it was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Indian Subcontinent that brought a new dimension to suicide bombing. A dimensional tactic later adopted successfully by Islamic Jihad terrorists with deadly consequences.

LTTE - Ethnic Terrorists

The LTTE is a terrorist group based in Sri Lanka which has waged a brutal secessionist campaign against the Sri Lankan government since the 1970s with a view to create an independent “Tamil Eelam” state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Unlike, Islamic terrorism, an instrument of religion; LTTE fights the island’s Sinhalese majority, an instrument of ethnicity. I label the LTTE as “Ethnic Terrorists.”

Ethnic terrorism doesnt prescribe to religious ideology as the foundation of its terrorist agenda but ethnicity. However, ethnicity should not be confused with race. An ethnic group is a group of people sharing a common heritage, religion, or cultural tradition; while race is exclusive of belief or choice to belong to a group, but rather it’ a group composed of similar genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

In the case of the LTTE, it took up arms to secede from the ethnic Sinhalese dominated Sri Lanka for the cause of a separate, independent state of Eelam composed of the ethnic Tamil population. Founded in 1975 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, LTTE membership included disenchanted Tamil youth, who were discontent with policies of successive Sinhalese governments in Colombo (Sri Lanka’ capital) towards addressing a variety of concerns of the nation’s Tamil community.

Herein, their violent actions have earned them proscription as a terrorist organization by 32 countries, including the United States.

Global Terrorism, Dawn of the New Suicide Bomber

The LTTE has regularly used suicide bombers as instruments of terror. Unlike, previous suicide bombers who used bomb laden vehicles to carry out terrorist attacks, the LTTE pioneered the use of concealed suicide bomb vests for suicide bombings. Hence, it is this innovative terror tactic which is now used by Islamic terrorists as an instrument of Islamic terrorism worldwide.

The LTTE employed its lethal suicide bomber division, the Black Tigers using bomb vests and female suicide bombers to assassinate Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa, in 1993. The Black Tigers unit is ruthless, the best trained, and most efficient suicide squad in the world.

Jane’s Information Group reports that during 1980 and 2000, LTTE had carried out a sum of 168 suicide attacks on civilians and military targets. These suicide attacks exceeded the combined sum of Hamas and Hezbollah suicide attacks carried out during the same period.

Politics

Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 2

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

Nationhood is what its citizens are. The citizen is the component of nationhood. In global society there is corrosion of civil human behavior, growing sharper every day. This gradual corrosion has to be arrested and remedial measures taken as to improve the situation. In our homeland, the US Constitution is revered, its Bill of Rights sacred, and American democracy esteemed, but the fundamental duties of a citizen are neither taught nor revered. Fundamental Duties of citizens serve an important purpose. Specifically, no democratic republic can ever thrive unless citizens are active participants in the process of governance by embracing responsibilities and discharging citizenship duties.

As Americans we value individuality, but the most critical task facing us is to reconcile the claims of individuality and those of the civic society. To accomplish this, the individual citizen has to become cognizant of his social and citizenship duties, thus shaping societal members that are compassionate and solicitous of the inalienable rights of their fellow citizens.

Henceforth, comprehension of our citizenship duties is as important as comprehension of our rights. Man doesnt live in a vacuum, isolated from fellow man. He exists for the good of others as well as the good of himself. The ability of man to differentiate between right and wrong separates him from other beings. This knowledge is inculcated in man by imbibing duties of a citizen, making man responsible to himself and to society in which he resides.

If every citizen executes his duties regardless of considerations of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, language, and creed, most of the melancholy in today’ society could be suppressed, if not eliminated, and entire society uplifted. The lifeblood of civilized life is the adherence and obedience to citizen duties and values.

We value the well-rounded individual, the development of personality of the citizen in all spheres, intellectual, physical, mental, and social, and slowly emerging, the spiritual. The development process of the American citizen must include teachings of fundamental duties, not by legal strictures, but as inherent and innate sense of citizenship duties which in composite with the well-rounded individual, our societal culture can become a panacea for all of our political, administrative, and social ills

It is US duty, to awaken citizen duty through education which should not be merely an exercise of learning for learning sake; but to imbibe, subscribe to, prescribe citizen duties. In democratic governance, citizenship education is essential for every age group, for every profession, and for every station of life. The need of the hour for American citizens is to recognize the importance of fundamental duties of a citizen not only by precept but more so by practice. After all, fundamental duties are the foundations of national character and human dignity.

Democracy Now Part 3:Coming soon…

Politics

China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 4

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

Chinese influence has steadily grown in Africa, displacing many Western interests. When Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw visited Africa; he drew parallels between past activities of the colonial British Empire on the continent and China’s present activities. This parallel didnt go unnoticed by the world, it simply reinforced within Africa and outside that China’s activities were those of a neocolonial power.

Instead of empowering Africans, China is exploiting them. Beijing is exploiting Africa’s natural riches and hampering its pursuit of human rights and democracy. The traditional colonial powers had been European actors dominating distant lands in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Since the beginning of colonialism in the 15th century till the 20th century colonialism grew out of foreigners occupying far-away lands, dominating local political, governmental, and economic affairs and exploiting their resources through unfair trade practices or by sheer brutal force.

After World War II, de-colonization began in earnest and classic colonialism was replaced with a new colonialism. Neocolonialism contains all facets of traditional colonialism except for the physical occupation of foreign land. The new paradigm of a neocolonialist power is to exploit weaker states natural wealth, political framework, and economic resources under the guise of liberal capitalism.

Another successful method of influence over weak states by powerful actors is through military arm sales and/or joint military arms production. China’s arms exports are more than$1 billion a year, generally involving exchange of raw materials for weapons. It is difficult to ascertain the exact value of Chinese global arms exports, as Beijing doesnt report this data.

Beijing has increased military-military cooperation with the African Continent, making it the centerpiece of its arms exports expansion program. Between 1996 and 2003, China was second only to Russia in arm sales to Africa. Currently, Beijing ranks among the top conventional arms suppliers to African nations.

Some of the African nations China has established close military ties with are Sudan, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. A few years ago, China sold twelve jet fighters and over a 100 military vehicles worth approximately $240 million. In Sudan, the situation is of far greater concern. Chinese fighter planes, tanks, bombers, machine guns, helicopters, and rocket-propelled grenades supplied to Sudan’s National Islamic Front military junta have been used in the genocidal north-south civil war. Global human rights organizations have pointed out the use of Chinese arms by the Sudanese government in genocide campaigns in the Darfur region.

As Ethiopia and Eritrea tensions continue, China has provided arms to both nations. During the war between the two nations from 1998 to 2000, China bypassed a UN arms embargo and provided in excess of $1 billion in weapons to both states. In August 2005, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi agreed to forge a formal military relationship with China in exchange of military technologies, military training, and more.

In the frail national environments of African countries, Chinese influence complicates democratic consolidation and promotion of good governance. Compared to India which promotes democratic ideals; China can only foster inherent communist principles and corrupt business practices that permeate throughout China. In 2005, in run-up to Zimbabwe’ elections, China had sent to Zimbabwe electricity transformers, agricultural equipment, and crates full of T-shirts bearing the insignia of Robert Mugabe’s party; Mugabe’s oppressive regime has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980. Chinese businesses provided Mugabe’s government jamming devices to be used against his opposition’ radio stations.

Also, Beijing delivered Harare riot control gear just in case of public protest marches. In addition to Zimbabwe, China has been condemned for blocking Western efforts to punish and isolate the Sudanese regime. In 2004, Chinese UN ambassador defanged US draft resolutions to the United Nations calling for strong measures against ethnic cleansing in Darfur. China has no history or concept of democracy and the inherent rights of mankind, henceforth it doesnt care for abuses of various hues perpetrated by African regimes upon its citizens, as the Chinese regime is guilty of doing the same at home. It is highly unlikely that China can be counted upon to be a responsible actor in Africa based upon China’s global role thus far.

The responsible comity of nations cannot expect China, a communist, military-led oppressive regime to be a responsible actor in Africa or internationally; Beijing has no experience in good governance, value of human rights, democratic principles, respect for rule of law, property rights, environmental protection, corporate governance, consensus building, transparent democratic legal system, welfare of its citizens, food and health safety, nuclear non-proliferation, and more. Gaining valuable experience in these areas based upon a solid foundation of democratic principles is necessary before China can be counted upon to be a responsible actor with any degree of legitimacy at the world stage.

China will use its soft power and other means to sustain illegitimate and undemocratic African governments because it serves its economic interests; the only way it has been and can continue to do this is by being a neocolonialist power.

Part 5: Coming soon

Politics

Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 1

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

A democratic society cannot function without guaranteeing fundamental rights of its citizens and its citizens cannot function democratically without discharging their fundamental duties in society. The American nationhood has been built upon the democratic temper. The US Constitution and the accompanying Bill of Rights have withstood the test of time; both serve as role models to the world.

Somehow we place disproportionate emphasis on our rights against our duties as citizens. For it is, rights and duties are the two sides of the same coin. Our inalienable rights are inherent and fundamental; the constitution simply safeguards and guarantees them. As rights are inalienable so are duties, for every right there is a reciprocal duty. The duty of a person is an inalienable part of his/her right.

A right emanates from a duty discharged well. The duty of one person is the right of another person, as is respect for a person’s liberty and not to impose constraints upon it. Government safeguarding of rights become a nonentity; if everyone performs his/her duty, everyone’s rights would be automatically safeguarded.

Mahatma Gandhi stated eloquently the responsibilities of all citizens:

“The true source of right is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek. If leaving duties unperformed we run after rights, they will escape us like will-o-the-wist, the more we pursue them, the farther they will fly.”

“I learned from my illiterate but wise mother that all rights to be deserved and preserved come from my duty well done. Thus the very right to live accrues to us when we do the duty of citizenship of the world. From this one fundamental statement, perhaps it is easy enough to define duties of man and women and correlate every right to some corresponding duty to be first performed. Every other right can be shown to be a usurpation hardly worth fighting for.”

So far, in my readings I have yet to come across so comprehensive yet so concise an elocution of duty of a citizen than Article 51A of the Constitution of India.

“It shall be the duty of every citizen of India“

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.”

Herein, the above duties are fundamental to the well-oiled functioning of society, continually endeavoring towards self-improvement. The duties of every Indian citizen are laid threadbare in their constitution, these citizenship values are not mere repository of Indians alone.

The civic and personal duties of Indians transcend the physical boundaries of India, they belong to all mankind. A nation may need only to replace the word “India” with their own to engender within their citizens the importance of duty. Let us see an example:

“It shall be the duty of every citizen of the United States of America“

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the United States of America;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of the United States of America transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.”

Democracy Now Part 2: Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 2

Politics

Presidential Election: Presidential Candidates 2008 - Election Coverage

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

The presidential election of 2008 has a gamut of newbies and known faces as presidential candidates. I see the current landscape littered with so much misinformation that I thought it my duty to distill the issues from non-issues and information from misinformation.

I hope to present to you a breakdown of the presidential candidates, their positions for the 2008 presidential election, and any other topic I believe to be important. So, while I write about other topics of interest for Gimmie the Scoop; I will do my very best to present election coverage till the end of the 2008 presidential election.

…
Read the rest of this entry »

Politics

Presidential Election: Presidential Candidates 2008 - Election Coverage

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

The presidential election of 2008 has a gamut of newbies and known faces as presidential candidates. I see the current landscape littered with so much misinformation that I thought it my duty to distill the issues from non-issues and information from misinformation.

I hope to present to you a breakdown of the presidential candidates, their positions for the 2008 presidential election, and any other topic I believe to be important. So, while I write about other topics of interest for Gimmie the Scoop; I will do my very best to present election coverage till the end of the 2008 presidential election.

…
Read the rest of this entry »

Politics

China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 3

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

India’s traditional approach towards Africa has been one of friendship and fraternity.  India’s strategy towards Africa is rather unique; India concentrates on capacity-building, while China follows traditional resource-based investment. Resource-based investments from China are mainly dependent on domestic compulsion for overseas natural resources.

While capacity building involves providing developing nations competence and skills in various areas for upgrade such as, industrial, technological, economic, social welfare, education, infrastructure, and other. This approach can transform communities, societies, cultures, and environments from the ground up and lead to more sustainable development than imposition from top down.

The emphases on grassroots upliftment projects integrate Indian firms deeply into local African society and economy. By hiring and training locals at certain stages of the projects the Indian firms give Africans an equitable stake in the success of the project. Consequently, the local populaces’ involvement in projects has a deep-impact upon their self-esteem and psyche creating an innate sense of accomplishment and pride; thus India and Indians endear themselves at the individual level, unlike China.

India’s private investments are increasing in clout and differ from China’s state-managed model. Indian multinationals Tata, Cipla, Mahindra, and others have successfully implemented profitable projects in Africa.  Also, the increasing investments include African countries that don’t share India’s British-colonial past. Traditionally, India has pursued economic investments with African nations included in the British Commonwealth. However, India has made recent forays into West Africa.

Currently, India-West Africa nonoil trade exceeds $3 billion and is rising. The Indian investment in the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is forecasted to expand to $1 billion by 2011. But British Commonwealth member Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa, accounting for more than $3 billion in bilateral trade.

Two years ago, Indian national oil giant ONGC and Mittal Steel joined hands to form a joint venture OMEL to invest $6 billion in infrastructure projects to set up railway lines, a power plant, and a refinery in Nigeria.  In return, OMEL will receive rights to oil blocks from Nigeria.

Some Indian investments have followed China into controversial territory such as, India’s 25 percent stake in Sudan’s major oil fields. The success of China in obtaining major oil and gas investments has impressed India. China in one instance thwarted India’s deal with Shell Oil for 50 percent share in an oil-exploration project in Angola by offering $2.3 billion in aid, compared to India’s $200 million aid offer. Hence, India may attempt to imitate China’s strategies to avoid being eclipsed in future deals.

On the other hand, following China’s lead may imperil African goodwill towards India.  India must persist on its course of capacity-building, skill, and technology transfer instead of possible mimicking of China’s strategy of exploitation.  Otherwise, like China, India may be seen by Africans as a neo-colonialist power.

Part 4: China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 4

Politics

The Great Game Revisited: the Quest for Central Asian Oil

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

Rudyard Kipling first coined the phrase “Great Game” in famed novel Kim to depict the nineteenth century contest between Russia and Britain over Central Asia. The area acted as a buffer to the expansion of the Russian Empire into India. In the twentieth century Russia appropriated the region, only Afghanistan remained out of its sphere. The trophy for Russia was access to the warm water ports of the Gulf, Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. The objective of the British was to maintain Russian influence from extending south, to guard the sea routes to India, and to preserve British naval preeminence worldwide. The game was played out over 150 years ago between these two great empires. But empires fade and new ones ascend, but the old ambitions never fade away. However, this time there are several new players in the great game, each desiring control over the natural wealth of Central Asia.

Central Asia is composed of countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Empire: Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Caucasian republics are composed of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Also, bordering the Caspian Sea are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan. The investors and the men who lead these former Soviet states are a combination of egos, huge ambition, and huge monies that make a highly potent mixture. Also, if another ingredient is added, the mixture becomes even more potent; the Caspian zone’s strategic importance. The Central Asian republics are a land bridge between Europe and Asia, Islam and Christianity, and a buffer between Russia and NATO.

But to add to this already potent mix: the Caspian oil and gas are worthless unless they can be shipped to market and that is an arduous task in a landlocked region. These republics have one form of natural wealth or another that attracts nations and multinational corporations. The Great Game’s greatest player and potential investor is the lone superpower, the United States. Herein, the US can leverage its might to access the region’s resources, gain strategic depth, and spread democracy to the republics. However, there are a few obstacles:

• Resurgent Russia under Putin’s leadership has attempted to reclaim an assertive role in the region; as it did recently with Ukraine to teach it a lesson for the Orange Revolution of 2004. Russia still sees this entire region within its sphere of influence; the slow NATO expansion eastwards has only made Russia re-double its efforts to maintain dominance in the region.

• Caspian basin and Central Asia region is landlocked, immensely difficult to access and bring oil to the market

• Energy hungry China’s attempt to checkmate American influence in the region through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China’s recent purchase of Kazakhstani oil assets illustrate its policy to diversify dependence on Middle Eastern oil; as well as challenge American oil diplomacy

• Region is politically unstable; Chechnya imbroglio, Afghanistan and Pakistan instability can spillover to the surrounding Central Asian republics, disputes between Central Asian and Caucasian republics

• Insuring the safety of the pipelines is of main concern; prevent terrorist attacks or taps on the pipelines

In order to overcome these issues, the US needs to seek cooperation of several nations in the region. After all, the oil will traverse the territories of more than one nation before it can reach market. Also, the region is in Russia’s neighborhood; any deals with the United States by these countries must in some manner get Russia’s informal approval or cut Russia into the deal. It is in the US interest to develop and utilize different pipeline routes to lessen the leverage of any one country.

The quest for oil and gas is the pivot upon which the world economy revolves. The playground is Central Asia; the game crowded by multiple players and their respective corporations. Herein, the United States must deftly use its diplomatic skills with nations that constitute the republics and their neighbors, especially Russia, China, and Iran. We must have a multi-pronged strategy if we are to ultimately win the Great Game.

Politics

China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 2

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

To fuel China’s amazing economic growth, China has invested billions of dollars in various projects throughout Africa. As of 2006, bilateral trade had touched $55 billion. At an annual growth rate of between 30 and 40 percent in the past few years, Africa-China trade may top $100 billion by 2010. Asia (27%) aims to displace the European Union (32%) and the United States (29%) from third to first position as Africa’ premier trade partner.

China is keen to build upon its current position as key trade and military partner to the continent. China has secured drilling rights in Sudan, Angola, and Nigeria, and similar oil and gas exploration investments with Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Kenya.

According to the Chinese, in 2005, their companies invested $175 million in Africa for mainly oil exploration projects and infrastructure. CNOOC Ltd., the third-largest national oil company in the People’s Republic of China after CNPC and Sinopec has bought a 45 percent stake in an offshore oil field in Nigeria for $2.27 billion and imports 64 percent of Sudan’s oil.

Already China is in control of most of Sudan’s natural resources. It is investing heavily in infrastructure such as railways, roads, harbors that are needed for support of oil, gas, and mining projects in Africa. China has pledged to give about $20 billion in trade and infrastructure backing to Africa over the next three years and double development aid by 2009. China has already forgiven approximately $1.5 billion in debt to Africa and has promised to do the same in the future.

Africa currently accounts for some 25% of China’s oil imports. In order to ensure continuous impetus in securing these imports, China continues to concentrate on resource-based investment; while, India’s stratagem in Africa is quite different.

Part 3: China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 3

Politics

China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 1

Written by: Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager

So far, China is winning the race of influence for Africa’s resources, outpacing India in the level of investments. However, India, Africa’s traditional friend is ready for the challenge. China’s recent interest in Africa is tied to its thirst for oil, the main reason for an aggressive push into the continent. China’s average 9 percent economic growth rate over the last 20 years has created an ever growing demand for energy.

The Asian giant’s primary energy consumption grew by 8.4 percent in 2006, compared with 2.4 percent growth rate of global consumption. The growth in primary energy consumption by China accounted for 15.6 percent of global consumption. China’s reliance on oil imports was firm at 47 percent in 2006. In addition to oil, China needs raw materials. Also, the country’ lack of natural oil reserves has made it more dependent on imported oil.

The dependency on oil is also the bane of China’s neighbor India, the other Asian giant. Even though India is domicile to more than 15% of the global population, it uses only about 2.3 million barrels of oil per day which is 3% of daily global oil production. Comparatively, China consumes 7.6% of the global oil supply, a population nearly 20% larger than India’s. Meanwhile, the U.S. with a population 30% less than that of India’, imbibes more than 20% of global oil.

It is forecasted that by 2025, India will more than double its current oil consumption to over 5 million bpd. At the moment India is immensely dependent on oil imports, about 70% of India’s oil is imported. In order for India to sustain the economic progress, the thirst for oil and gas will only grow. Hence, India with concerted focus has made forays into Africa for investment.

Unlike China, India’s sincere approach resonates at a visceral level with Africans. India endears itself amongst the populace at a local level by promoting upliftment projects, thus garnering goodwill traction when seeking investment.

Recently, India inaugurated a pan-African e-network project that will link people in Africa’s 53 countries. The e-network will let hospitals and schools throughout the continent link with premier institutions in India. The Indian initiative of tele-medicine and tele-education will bring benefits of healthcare and higher education to the African people.

India hopes that this project will build upon traditional Indian goodwill and influence in Africa. India has deep historical, cultural, and trade ties with Africa dating back several centuries, and its support for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and decolonization are well respected.

Nevertheless, India’s influence has been eclipsed by China’s. Over the years China’s interest in Africa has flowered.

Part 2: China and India Battle for Influence in Africa: Part 2