Central African Republic: Is this what our soldiers died for? (South Africa and Blood Diamonds)

Mail & Guardian ^ | 28 Mar 2013 00:00 | AmaBhungane Reporters

[Pan_Yan]

South African military involvement in the Central African Republic has from the start been entwined with ANC-linked deals, raising questions about the motivation for the disastrous deployment of South African troops to the troubled country.

The figure at the centre of the web is the politically connected businessperson and fixer Didier Pereira.

Pereira is currently partnered to the ANC security supremo and fundraiser, Paul Langa, and former spy chief Billy Masetlha. Their group has initiated several business projects in CAR, including some involving diamonds

Previously, he partnered with ANC hard man Joshua "General" Nxumalo and the ANC funding front, Chancellor House, in an initiative that involved security and attempts to gain a diamond export monopoly in the CAR.

Pereira, originally from Congo-Brazzaville, is a special adviser to the recently toppled CAR president, François Bozizé.

He has maintained business ties with powerful ANC security and intelligence figures during both the Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma presidencies.

Although the ANC figures who Pereira does business with has changed between presidencies, the nature of his dealings have remained consistent.

[cripplecreek]

Now aren’t you glad Obama is dragging us into the African morass little by little?

[Pan_Yan]

Now aren’t you glad Obama is dragging us into the African morass little by little?

We have 100 special forces advisers in the extreme eastern part of CAR helping 2,500 Ugandan troops track down the Lord's Resistance Army. The French have sent in an additional 300 soldiers to protect their people bringing their total up to 550. South Africa has 200 soldiers still there and are supposed to be sending another 300 to exact revenge on the new government for killing 13 of their soldiers.

Lots of cooks in this hot little kitchen.

[Vendome]

The United States of Africa should assume the lead and responsibility.

55 freaking nation chumps can’t fix this?

[cripplecreek]

Seems to me that we’re taking our orders from the international crisis group in Africa.

[cerberus]

For some interesting and entertaining insight on the Central African Republic, watch the documentary The Ambassador on Netflix.

[Pan_Yan]

I’ll check it out.

[zeugma]

The term “blood diamonds” is a marketing gimmick to help maintain DeBeers’ monopoly on the diamond market.

[BobL]

“The term “blood diamonds” is a marketing gimmick to help maintain DeBeers’ monopoly on the diamond market.”

I TOTALLY believe that. I’ve managed to keep from buying my wife an artificially-priced diamond for DECADES, and until DeBeers is disbanded, she’s just out of luck.

[zeugma]

There are companies that make "artificial" diamond that is actually better than the "real thing", and is lots cheaper. The way jewelers can tell that these are "artificial", is that they are too perfect. You don't find pure carbon in nature, like you can produce in an industrial setting. If she really wants a diamond, I'd recommend one of those.

[BobL]

“There are companies that make “artificial” diamond that is actually better than the “real thing”, and is lots cheaper. “

Thanks, I’ll check into that.