The Gulf of Guinea and West Africa: a new focal point?

[davidbfpo]

Another example of the USA's long reach, as the BBC reports:

The former chief of the navy in Guinea-Bissau has been arrested and is being transferred to the US, local media have reported. Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto was picked up on a boat in international waters near Cape Verde, a local broadcaster said.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22030847

According to the IISS Military Balance Guinea-Bissau has a navy with two patrol boats and politely notes an EU SSR mission left in August 2010, an Angolan mission in 2012 and an ECOWAS mission then deployed. Well that's everything solved WAWA.

IIRC a Cape Verde VIP was in Washington DC last week, part of an African delegation visiting the Pentagon.

[davidbfpo]

It gets better! First a rear admiral, now the president is looking at being indicted in the USA.

Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9370YD20130408

[KingJaja]

David,

I don't care what foreign policy pundits say, but nabbing a serving African president to face a drugs trial in the US (like Noriega) is not a good mood.

There are several leaders in West Africa, most are SOBs - and they know it. The US cannot simply invade all of them and bring them to justice, they will oppose this and the US also needs their cooperation.

[davidbfpo]

The first comprehensive account if the situation in Guinea-Bissau I've seen, by a group of blog reporters, partly based on the recently published US court documents:http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/0...y-allegations/

[KingJaja]

David,

You know we have meth labs in Lagos now?

I'm told the meth is for export.

[davidbfpo]

King Jaja,

Meth labs in Nigeria, even if for export, is a bad sign. I rely on the anecdotes given to me when out with US LE a few years ago in Montana. To my knowledge 'meth' is virtually unknown here in the UK. Is South Africa the market for the producers?

[KingJaja]

It is VERY serious, FIVE labs have been discovered JUST THIS YEAR.

David,

Authorities in Lagos have discovered the fifth illegal methamphetamine production centre in just one year, deepening fears Nigeria is a narcotics hub and part of a worldwide network.

The anti-drugs agency says the West African country is producing meth on a large scale.

The highly addictive drug is known by several names, including meth, ice and crystal. It is usually injected, but it can also be smoked or inhaled.

Mild doses can increase alertness and concentration, but high doses can cause psychological problems including paranoia and hallucinations.

Nigeria used to be a transit point through which illegal drugs from Mexico passed on their way to Europe.

Mitchell Ofojeyu, a spokesman for the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, said: "They have an international network because they're bringing in Bolivians into West Africa to produce Methamphetamine; [it] shows the synergy the drug cells in West Africa have with their counterparts in other regions of the world."

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/afric...354435412.html