Introduction
Recent past or on-going Ebola
outbreak is presenting important vistas on the process and mechanisms deployed
in international politics by some powers. It is equally exposing a number of
issues taken from granted during and immediately after the cold war, which
captures parties acting on impunity because they can assert without
obstruction. It appears that in the
media loaded world, confusion is the only strategy United States can offer in
dealing with Ebola. Incoherent positions, misleading statements and
questionable conclusions littered all over the geopolitical Augean table.
Is it a Global Threat?
The question of this sub-heading
is the only rationale thing to present as a starter of a conversation. The
current outbreak has been around for the past 2 quarters and a number of
patterns are emerging in response by different countries. Only 3 countries have been identified as the
sources of the outbreak; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. One must observe
that countries bordering these 3 haven’t recorded Ebola outbreaks in their
territories. These include Cote d’Ivorie, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Senegal. See
map below.
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| Red line = Ebola source countries; Green arch = Ebola source country neighbours |
With this knowledge, spatial epidemiology and medical geography are
theoretically and methodologically sound to penetrate the layers of stupidity
to identify spatial origins and diffusion patterns. In each of these countries, temporal and
spatial hotspots exist which must have been captured by the respective
government. It is also clear that possible diffusion is restricted within the
countries and in specific regions/locations even within cities where applicable.
So doomsday predictors and modellers
cannot just have field days without ulterior motives.
While the threat of Ebola is
espoused more on its incurability, it remains huge problem in the host
countries. Of course the governments of those countries failed abysmally to
take responsibilities for their citizens and one country (Liberia) even attempted
to divert attention by sending an Ebola dying patient to another country
(Nigeria). Beyond geopolitical and profit opportunities for the big
pharmaceutical firms, why is United States and United Kingdom misinforming the
world on Ebola? If Ebola is as dangerous as claimed i.e. transmission is by
mere physical contact or by air; why haven’t flights to and from Liberia, Guinea
and Sierra Leone not suspended?
For doomsday prophets and
prophetesses who proclaim giant pandemic annihilating millions of course starting
with Africans by implications, what matters most? Imposing fear through
misinformation or investing in immediate containment in the host countries?
Nigeria Excellence
Liberia’s attempt to impose Ebola
on Nigeria failed in a spectacular fashion. This calculated attempt to
undermine the country and create instability despite Nigeria’s long investment in
Liberia is a serious breach of faith and trust. Nevertheless Abuja confounded
both internal and external observers by facing Ebola head-on and won. All human
and material resources including entry/exit points mandatory checks were
imposed.
The only deaths that occurred were deaths of gallant professional who
unknowingly attended to the Liberian-originated infected patient without
requisite safety procedures. The so-called allies failed to cooperate with the
urgency required. The containment success of Nigeria displays strategic
initiative, robust deployment of resources and effective management of the
likes not seen in Nigeria for decades. There are no bells and whistles in the western
media on Nigeria’s excellent performance. The reason being that they do not
expect anything positive from Nigeria albeit Africa.
Anglo-US Confusion
It is useful to present some
background to United States actions. With full attention on enhancing Arab
world destabilisation, her initial response was sending a few thousand troops
to Liberia. What thousands of non-medical professional soldiers will do in an
infection theatre challenges imagination? With full attention on the Arab and
Ukrainian fronts, Washington DC like an elephant took a long time to redirect
her attention. In this guise United Kingdom lack independent policy. A number
of counter-productive measures were issued which only sustains the general
perception that robust strategy is now scarce on Capitol Hill.
First they flirted with ZMapp, an
experimental (trial) drug with no empirically defined effectiveness. When this
failed to gain traction, they resorted to misinformation of domestic population
including but not limited to sharing the potential of airborne Ebola.
Naturally, panic spread in many cities as panic-buying figures showed. When
this no-strategy failed, they moved into confirming that Ebola patients exist in
the country but have no idea of proactive action. It is on record now that US
health professionals who contracted Ebola did so while treating and attending
to certified patients who happen to arrive from Liberia. Their nationality is
not the issue. Available data shows that
all Ebola deaths outside Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone were contracted while
in one of the named countries. It is strange for US to become the first country
in the world where transmission to health professional occurred within a
supposed secure environment.
In the absence of immediate
global panic similar to the one that followed SARS and ill-fated quick production
of Tamiflu drug, western media is bombarding the world with US presidents Ebola
summit. Interestingly, this followed a summit of generals with US president on
possible enhancement of regime change in Damascus. What is evident in these
patterns is the unreconstructed absence of robust strategy and clear
leadership. At a time when Washington DC is hubristically telling all she is
the only superpower; evidence shows leadership fatigue, strategic confusion,
self-reassuring delusion and above all disconnection to urgent domestic needs.
As for London, the ultimate
remora of United States, she has now in tandem authorised control/checks in
select airports. This was done with some
drama. According to questionable BBC report, London is investing human and
material resources in Sierra Leone to assist containment and treatment of
infected patients. This information needs to be verified.
Matters Arising
There are levels of
responsibilities and irresponsibility. The biggest culprits in this Ebola saga
are the governments/presidents of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. These individuals have exemplified the worst
expression of governance and have no justification to remain in government or
power. They are part of their country’s problems rather than pretend
association with their solutions. On another level they have finally confirmed
that these countries are not failed states, rather states with potentials run
by corrupt/tainted members of the elite.
Performance of United States and
United Kingdom present wonderful opportunities for various countries of the
world especially in Africa to begin full-scale recalibration of their relations
with Washington DC towards reduction of strategic depth and investing more in
association with diversity of powers. It is also an opportunity to strengthen instruments
and protocols of regional groups like ECOWAS.
It is evident that the world is at an important juncture when the final
days of 20th century geopolitical configuration built on bloodshed
and industrial scale murders is coming to roost.
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