Combating Terrorism, Rebel Groups, and Armed Militias in the Face of Economic Prosperity Opportunities

The African nations of Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia recently broke ground on one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken on the African continent; on March 2, 2012 work officially began on the Lamu-Port-South-Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport-Corridor (LAPSSET) project. The $25 billion project, which includes a 32 berth mega port, a railway, an oil pipeline, a highway, and a fiber optic network, shoulders the economic hope and fortune for millions of Africans living in the region. If all goes according to plan, the LAPSSET project is expected to become the leading trade and development center for East Africa, potentially bringing millions of Africans out of destitute poverty. Despite the enthusiasm from government leaders and the civilian population, great anxiety exists. The porous security environment that envelops the East African region creates an opportunity for a variety of rebel groups, armed militia, and terrorists to physically destroy elements of the LAPSSET project. Of these elements, the most vulnerable is the oil pipeline, which is scheduled to pass through Kenya and South Sudan. A successful attack on the pipeline would disrupt and potentially destroy the economic fortune so many Africans are counting on. To help bring economic prosperity to East Africa, United States Africa .....