Black gold
America is increasingly interested in Africa's oil reserves
WHY are Americans suddenly flocking to western Africa? Men with Texan drawls and colourful overalls crowd the beachside bars in Luanda, Angola's capital. In September Colin Powell paid a flying visit to Angola and Gabon; early next year George Bush is expected to follow suit. Last month ten African heads of state visited the American president. Rumours fly at cocktail parties in African capitals that the United States plans a military base in Sao Tome and Principe, an island country in the Gulf of Guinea.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Black gold”
From the October 26th 2002 edition
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