Food Insecurity in Sub-saharan Africa - Essay Example

Food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Implication to US National Security Introduction Food insecurityrefers to a situation in which, there is a lack of a reliable and consistent access to sufficient food over a period. Lack of food security is a major problem that affects the world population and, in particular, the citizens of third world countries. While food insecurity can be directly associated with environmental factors such drought, other factors also exacerbate food insecurity. For instance, the global recession experienced in recent time escalated food prices across the world and destabilized food security in many countries. Consequently, where there is food insecurity, conflicts are bound to emerge. In this regard, the Sub-Saharan Africa is the most hit by conflicts that can be associated with food insecurity. The conflicts that often emerge because of food insecurity tend to destroy local economies. As a result, there is forced migration, creation of refugee populations, emergent of diseases such as cholera and the collapse of social institutions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, food insecurity has contributed to civil wars, communal conflicts, and democratic breakdowns1. Where there is a conflict, other issues prop up, and they influence how people express their discontent with the lack of food security. Such factors are context specific and include demographic, social, political and economic factors. As a region that is still developing, the Sub-Saharan Africa relies on the Western countries for support to improve their institutions. In this regard, a major developed country that plays a key role in promoting social, political and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa is the United States. However, as the problem of food insecurity continues to persist in the region, the United States finds itself involved in solving African conflicts2. As a result, it is plausible for food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa to have an implication on United States national security and the military respectively. Food insecurity and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa In most Sub-Saharan Africa countries, food insecurity is a major issue and is often a result of scarce resources such as water and land. In the search for these scarce commodities, communal conflicts often emerge and can escalate to a civil war particular when the government supports one warring faction in the conflict. An example in this sense is the Darfur conflict that escalated into a civil war and displaced millions. Further, an increase in food prices creates conflict because, high food prices erode real income and the affected in extreme cases, are driven to drastic measures that include riots or protests against the responsible institutions3. On the other hand, demographics also play a role on how people react to the issue of food insecurity. For instance, youth bulge and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa create situations where, the youth resort to drastic measures in order to survive. In most parts of the Sub-Saharan Africa, the youth has resorted to vigilante groups to find means of survival4. A case in this regard is evident in Kenya where youths have joined a vigilante known as “Mungiki” who derive their means of survival by engaging in politically funded violence. In these vigilante groups, food insecurity is an issue that drives them to take such drastic and uncouth measures. Politics is another factor that influence how people respond to issues related to food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Depending on the political regime whether democratic or autocratic, the progress in terms of economic development tend to influence the relationship between political violence and the existing political regime. Democracy is seen as a way of improving accountability and by extension, minimizing conflicts. As such in regions where democracy flourishes, conflicts are minimal. However, in case economic development takes a negative turn, democracy fails, and more conflicts are evident. For example, a slow pace of economic development means increase in unemployment and poverty levels. In turn, the population is not in a position to put food on the table on a frequent basis. The result in this respect will be a cry for regime change and where the political class is not willing to take responsibility, conflict emerges. Today, the conflict-ridden regions in Sub-Saharan Africa are associated with low income per capita and food insecurity5. The regions in Sub-Saharan Africa where food insecurity is common In Sub-Saharan Africa, the regions, where food insecurity is common, include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somali and areas marginalized by governments in different Sub-Saharan Africa countries. In most of the countries mentioned above, food insecurity is caused by environmental factors such as drought. However, conflicts in some of these countries have also worsened the situation6. These conflicts often emerge as a result of the need for regime change or competing for scarce resources such as land and water. In the DRC, the inequitable share of the country’s vast mineral resources has resulted in the rise of rebel factions fighting in different parts of the country. As a result, food insecurity in the DRC has reached escalating levels with thousands of displaced families succumbing to hunger. In Somali, the worsening situation of food insecurity has not only created conflicts, but also a safety net for international terrorists. These terrorists have found a safe haven in Somali because, the people there are willing to conceal their identity in return for favors such as providing food supplies to the local people7. The implication on the United States National Security The worsening scenario of food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa has created conflicts that require international intervention. The United States as the only world’s superpower has a bigger role to play in mitigating conflicts that have left millions displaced or dead. In order to solve conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States involves itself in diplomatic forays in different Sub-Saharan Africa countries. In their diplomatic efforts, United States often try to assist African countries in the Sub-Sahara to improve their institutions. Such efforts involve funding African countries to improve their democracies, social institutions and economic develop8. In other instances, the U.S also provides military intervention in areas where there is an escalation of conflict. The U.S also allows citizens of the affected countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa to obtain refugee status or seek political asylum in the United States. The United States is also a key financier of the I.M.F and World Bank that give financial assistance or loans to African countries to undertake various development initiatives. However, while these efforts are necessary to assist Sub-Saharan Africa countries, they take a toll on the United States National Security9. The U.S has its national interests scattered all over the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Such National Interests include its embassies, citizens and a military base in the Horn of Africa. Accordingly, the U.S government to protect its National Interests in the Sub-Sahara Africa channels more resources. In addition to the commitment of resources in other areas of the world, a gap is created domestically in terms of National Security because of overstretched resources in the international front10. For example, deploying U.S security forces to intervene in conflict-ridden regions in Sub-Saharan Africa leave the country exposed to domestic threats from foreigners. Further, U.S is also overstretching itself in terms of supporting Sub-Saharan Africa countries financially. The consequence of supporting other countries financially is that, the U.S is left struggling to allocate funds to different government institutions necessary to improve the living standards of citizens back home. The U.S also finds itself in a vicious cycle because of providing asylum and refugee status to people from Sub-Saharan Africa countries affected by food insecurity and conflicts. The migration impacts negatively on the United States economy in terms of overstretching resources meant to serve the United States citizens. Some of the people provided with a safe haven in the U.S may pose a threat to the national security especially if they belong to a terrorist cell11. While it is noble for the U.S to intervene in the problems affecting Sub-Saharan Africa, there are unhappy factions that view United States as taking sides or applying double standards in its foreign policies. It is such views that create animosity against the United States and lead to certain political groups in the Sub-Saharan Africa to support or harbor terrorist cells in their midst. Example of a country in Sub-Sahara Africa that has provided safe haven for terrorists for years is Somali. Due to the escalation of civil war in Somali in the early 90s after the toppling of Siad Barre, the United States intervened military wise but did not meet their objective and eventually pulled out. This left a power vacuum and the rise of warlords that claimed control in different parts of Somali12. Later on, a faction linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network took advantage of the power vacuum to assume leadership of the country. Consequently, terrorists that are more international moved to Somali where they continued to advance their “cause” of targeting the United States Interests both domestically and internationally. Example, in this case, is the use of al-Qaida terrorists trained in Somali to bomb the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 199813. Population-National Security Theory This theory states that famine can be reduced by downsizing the population because; a link exists between increase in population and a country’s ability to sustain food supplies for the growing population. As such, population control has turned into an issue that forces countries to come up with policies that control population growth such as family planning policies14. What can be done to improve food insecurity and its implication on the U.S National Security? President Truman’s point four states “the United States government needs to take bold steps in terms of availing scientific advances and industrial improvement to assist underdeveloped regions”15 This point needs to be seen as an igniter on how the United States can assist Sub-Saharan Africa countries solve food insecurity problems and at the same time, not compromise its National security. Empowerment is an important tool in helping Sub-Saharan Africa countries to find solutions to food insecurity and the conflicts that may arise thereafter. In addition, the solution to Sub-Saharan Africa problems should be long-term and not quick fixes that lead to short-term solutions16. As a developed nation; the United States need to help Africa countries to develop institutions that can last for a longer term. This involves helping countries to develop new constitutions that can direct these countries into the right path of political, social and economic development17. Further, United States can support Sub-Saharan Africa countries by investing in projects meant to promote food security. This involves providing the knowledge on agricultural technology to ensure that these countries improve food production. Investing in education is another key factor that the United States needs to consider when supporting Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Education is important in terms of alleviating poverty that is on the rise in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Through education, individuals in the Sub-Saharan Africa region will be self-sufficient in terms of affording their needs. This in turn, will reduce the number of uneducated youth who join the black or grey-market to meet their survival needs. The U.S can also assist countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa in infrastructure development. For instance, roads are important in opening up routes for food supplies from the farms that need transportation to other areas such as the urban areas18. Sometimes, food insecurity worsens because of inaccessibility to areas where food crops are grown. Policy implementation is another area where the United States can provide assistance and ensures that the established systems operate efficiently to improve the lives of people living in the Sub-Saharan Africa region19. On the other hand, involvement of the United States military in conflicts in the Sub-Saharan Africa countries can be reduced by providing training and proper equipment to law enforcers. Such an endeavor is important in preventing conflicts from escalating to a full-blown civil war that may require intervention by the international community20. Food security dilemma in the Sub-Saharan Africa region will continue to emerge, but with proper mitigation measures they can be solved locally and not rely on the United States and the international community. In addition, properly established institutions such as the police and the Judiciary in the countries from the Sub-Saharan Africa region will help to avert chaos that may result from protest or riots against food insecurity. For example, the affected can use the judicial system to raise their concerns rather than taking their grievances to the streets21. The concerns by the U.S military At present, the concerns for the U.S military are increase of international terrorists and Islamic insurgency in parts of the Sub-Saharan Africa. As such, the U.S interests in the region are at risk of being hit by terrorists who are finding safe havens in some countries such as Sudan and Somali22. Other than hitting U.S interests in the Sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly, the East African region, these terrorist cells also have the capabilities to target the U.S domestically. For example, a trained terrorist from the terror cells in Somali can obtain Visa in disguise and travel to the United States, commit an act of terror and travel back to Somalia to continue planning another mission23. This is a real threat to the United States national security and to the military that has to protect the country against any foreign aggression or terrorist attacks. Food crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa require a local solution and intervention from outside should be minimal24. This is because politics has a significant influence on how the countries being helped perceive the United States. As result, the perception should determine the mode of intervention to help African countries solve food insecurity crisis25. In addition, Africa as a continent is worse hit by disease epidemics and these diseases can affect the U.S military directly depending on how they deal with African countries experiencing food shortages. In recent times, Ebola hit parts of West Africa where the United States military was also involved directly in providing humanitarian aid that include food supplies. Critical to note is that, the U.S military presence in the Ebola hit region meant that they were also exposed to the risk of contracting the virus. Consequently, the risk of contracting Ebola, in this case, can also extend to the U.S thus, posing a threat to the country’s well-being in terms of preventing an epidemic from spreading in the U.S soil. In order to deal with security issues affecting the U.S in the African continent, the United States has established AFRICOM. This is a command center where the U.S engages military wise operations and relations with African countries26. How U.S AFRICOM can prepare to respond to a food crisis When responding to a food crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S AFRICOM first needs to assess its relations with the affected country. Assessing relations will help to determine whether is secure to send U.S military on the grounds to provide humanitarian aid. Where it is not possible to maintain a physical presence on the ground, the military can distribute food aid by air or solicit the services of IOs and NGOs on the ground. On the other hand, when dealing with an escalating situation, disaster management preparedness is necessary for the military to ensure the anticipated risks are mitigated.27 Bibliography Adbiboa, Daniel, “Ties that bind: the evolution and links of Al-Shabab,” Round Table 103, no.6 (2014): 581-597. Brinkman, Henk-Jan and Hendrix, Cullen, “Food insecurity and violent conflict: causes, consequences and addressing the challenges,” Occasional Paper 24 (2011):513-520. Chitonge, Horman,“Social Protection Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘Rethinking Regimes and Commitments,” African Studies 71, no. 3 (2012): 323-345. 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