Several African countries are linked to the US through
Europe, a Cold War air transport paradigm in which African affairs were left
with European allies. In those years, only a few really key countries such as
South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria had direct air links with the
US. But after the Cold War and the re-defining of US policies in Africa, a few
other lines were opened. During this period, Cameroon came to collaborate with
the US in the Safe-Sky for Africa Initiative launched by the Clinton
administration. The objectives were to better the quality of air services (air
transport companies and airports) so as to increase the level of exchanges,
draw investors and extend the tourism sector. Cameroon's participation in this
Safe-Sky Initiative demonstrates its desire to reap the benefits thereof, while
polishing its image in American circles.
It is however after the events on 9/11 (with the problems of
air security that entailed) that the US defined an African aviation policy
depending on US interests and security situation. In this policy, and
considering the role Cameroon has to play in US policies in the continent, US
authorities signed an open-skies agreement with Cameroonian authorities on Feb.
16, 2006 in Yaoundé. The Open-Skies Aviation Agreement was signed by
Undersecretary for African Affairs, Jendayi E. Frazer, and Cameroonian Minister
of Transport Dakole Daissala. It is however the US Transportation Secretary
(Minister of Transport) Norman Y. Mineta who revealed the geopolitical
undertone of the Agreement when he declared that «This agreement will
allow U.S. airlines to provide their passengers with more options for travel to
Africa while laying the foundation for Cameroon to serve as a gateway to and
from the continent»220(*). It is clear in this declaration that Cameroon's
role in US policies in Africa has grown and that the country is no more an
obscure Central African state, but a real anchor country not only for the Gulf
of Guinea, but for the rest of the continent.
Though the US now has Open-Skies relationships with 75 aviation
partners, including 16 in sub-Saharan Africa, the particular nature of this
accord with Cameroon is how broad it is. In effect, the agreement permits
unrestricted air service by the airlines of both sides (though in practice it
is US airlines) between and beyond the other's territory, without restrictions
on how often the carriers can fly, the prices they charge, or the kind of
aircraft they use. A particular note is the fact that the agreement permits all
US cargo carriers to fly between Cameroon and third countries without directly
connecting to the US. The reference to third countries here calls to mind US
interests in the sub-region, especially in countries such as Equatorial Guinea
(which is served through the embassy in Yaoundé), land locked countries
such as Chad and CAR, as well as other sub-regional countries without direct
air links with the US such as Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville), Sao Tome and
Principe, Niger, Sudan, etc. With the present conflicts in Darfur, and the
possible spill-over to the entire region and the need for US surveillance,
services and supplier flights, this accord with the Cameroonian government
carries more weight than never before.
Cameroon as an anchor for Central Africa
Map 3. Source: author's adaptation from Microsoft Encarta
2005.
