Mugabe accuses West of plundering African resources

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday warned African security agencies they must be wary of the West fuelling conflicts to exploit the continent's vast natural resources.

The veteran Zimbabwean leader told a gathering of African spy-chiefs in Harare that Western governments are using peacekeeping as a cover for mineral grabs.

Conflicts are "largely influenced by the former colonial powers who want to continue to syphon resources out of the continent," Mugabe told the group, which meets annually.

"Our erstwhile colonisers continue to manipulate international institutions and conventions to justify unilateral military intervention in African states, with the major objective of facilitating the easy extraction... of our natural resources." The veteran Zimbabwean leader said Africa is losing $18 billion annually because of conflicts, adding that the continent has endured at least 20 wars since 1990. "It is noteworthy that these conflict scenarios have raised the possibility of renewed presence of foreign troops on our continent." "This justification is especially romanticised in situations where it could be argued that Africa is unable to address their own problems," Mugabe said.

Mugabe said Africa still faces a myriad of other problems that include climate change, human and drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and cyber-terrorism.

AFP