SophieCo
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Russia wouldn’t endanger spy swap system with West by attacking Skripal - ex-Soviet mole in CIA
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Israelis and Palestinians alone will find solution, not let others do it – 20th IDF head
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‘Putin is a long-distance runner in politics’ – German journalist Hubert Seipel
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‘Japan should leave US nuclear umbrella’ - Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki discusses the nuclear deterrence
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‘Football beyond politics - shame some politicians don’t get that’ - Russia 2018 World Cup Chief on attempts to undermine the tournament
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‘Cowards fighting cowards behind computer screens’ – ex-drone operator Brandon Bryant on US drone strikes.
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‘US taking other nations hostage over Iran sanctions' – Ex EU-Commissioner Guenter Verheugen
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Spanish ex-Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos talks on Catalonia's bid for independence & future of the EU
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Former Italian PM Matteo Renzi talks on populists rise in Europe, referendum defeat and migrant crisis
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‘George Soros would like to invite millions of migrants to Europe’ – Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto
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‘Breaking up with the US won’t hurt Pakistan’ – ex-Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz
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‘The UK shouldn’t pretend it is a superpower’ – Lord Peter Truscott
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‘Dangerous for US experts to be too sympathetic to Russia’ – ex-US Defense Department analyst
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‘Secure and stable Africa is in very few people’s interests’ – Eeben Barlow, the mercenary leader
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‘American unilateralism challenges transatlantic relations’ – ex-French PM
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‘No gentlemen in football when the World Cup is at stake’ - Christian Karembeu
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‘Cybercrime is bigger than arms & drugs’ – cybercrime fighter
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Fmr. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on the impact of Arab Spring
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‘Basically, we didn’t lose anything’ - Billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, Putin’s closest friend, on Western sanctions.
‘Secure and stable Africa is in very few people’s interests’ – Eeben Barlow, the mercenary leader
Eeban Barlow is the founder of Executive Outcomes, a South African private military company (PMC) that fought against rebel groups in Sierra Leone and Angola. Sophie Shevardnadze spoke to Barlow about the role of mercenaries in Africa and why private armies are so unappealing to international organisations and NGOs.
“It appears the mantra that African solutions for African problems is a very good sound bite in theory, but in practice, we are not allowed to practice it,” Barlow said.
While private military companies aim to “end the conflict as quickly as possible, not to prolong it,”organisations, such as the United Nations and numerous NGOs, seek otherwise, Barlow said. “Us ending conflicts could, therefore, negate the roles they play in Africa.”
“Many of these foreign forces in Africa are here not to solve problems, but to ensure that the problems continue,” Barlow went on. As long as the conflicts continue, “certain deals” can be struck with governments to get access to resources, such as diamonds, gold and oil.
Although some African governments “wish” for PMC services, they are “continually threatened that if they make use of us, it will be to their disadvantage.” These threats, Barlow said, come from “beyond Africa.”
“It’s really just a proof to us that a stable and secure Africa appears to be in very few people’s interests,” he said.