How the Cold War and now the War in Ukraine have Justified Abuse of Human Rights, Inhumane Sanctions, and Abuse of Power
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Working hard to put pressure on countries from around the
world to take a stand against Russia in relation to its military operation in
Ukraine, the US government and its Western allies schedule two UNGA public
votes just months apart, the most recent was just days before the one year
anniversary of the start of the conflict. In both sessions, more countries from
Africa voted against the resolution or abstained than from any other continent.
Commentators and analysts attribute this neutrality to the role played by
Russia and China most recently shoring up African economies. That may partly
true. The more determinant factor that influence African leaders’ decision is
the historical one: Africa’s lack of economic development was the outcome of
Western colonialism (plunder of natural resources) which was motivated by
racism (Apartheid systems), for which Western countries did not legally acknowledge
and did not practically take full responsibility. If the West wants to have a “normal”
relation with the African people, they must start there; not think in terms of
handouts and bribery.
In the past, the US government and its allies justified their
support to colonial, apartheid regimes in Africa, and their placement of self-determination
movements and figures, like the ANC and Nelson Mandela, by the “cold War”
conditions. They care for countering communism more than they cared for human
rights.
Today, the US administration and its Western allies are operating
with the same mentality: Countering Russia and China comes before respect for
human rights and comes before remediation for past crimes and abuses.
These self-interested approaches are short-sighted, bigoted,
and offensive to the people who were subjected to hundreds of years of Darwinian
colonialism.
