Why Wars in Europe are more Concerning Than Wars in Africa And Other Continents – by OmoAdéyemo A Adéwálé

I am so happy that we do not have a real military power in Africa. Every country is dealing with its internal problems.

The Americas (North and South), two of the biggest continents in the world, are controlled by the United States of America, so no significant worries there.

Europe and Asia are probably the two continents with multiple regional powers, so you can expect more significant conflicts from there in the future, save for Western Europe.

Other continents are dealing with multiple conflicts, particularly Africa, but those conflicts are perceived as “NORMAL.” Unfortunate? Yes.

A war breaking out in any countries in Europe is given more importance. The special status is arbitrary, but it’s the unbalanced nature of the world. As you can see, more European countries and America are quickly opening their doors to refugees from Ukraine. That was not the case with those refugees from other continents. Again, these issues are complex.

A war in Europe is given more attention than a war in Africa or other poor continents. Europeans value stability and certainty. War brings instability and uncertainty. If there’s a war in Europe, European powers and their allies will elevate it to the consciousness of every person on earth. Other countries in other continents do not have the same privilege.

Even though most African countries, and other countries in other continents (think of Yemen), are currently at war, internally or externally, the whole world is now focused on Europe.

Historically, you will see some parallels, too. Before WWII, Germany was able to persuade other European powers to share colonies around the world. Brutal fights occurred in these colonies, but it did not spiral beyond control. When Germany, however, invaded Czechoslovakia, a country in Central Europe, the threat level was elevated. Even as Germany was on the verge of conquering other European powers, and as Britain and France kept talking about liberating Europe from a dominant Germany, Britain and France kept their colonies around the world, unleashing brutality against our forefathers. I’m not a fan of all the European powers.

Even after WWII, France, which had already been conquered by Germany around 1940 during the Battle of France, but was later liberated by the Allied powers, insisted on keeping all its colonies. You are shocked, right? They were just worried about liberating Europe, keeping other countries in chains.

Thankfully, America, which emerged from the war as a superpower, rejected their hypocrisy. How? America linked the Marshall Fund, a massive loan/grant program to rebuild a decimated Europe, to decolonization (if you won’t decolonize, then you won’t get loans/grants). France wanted to check its residual power in French Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam), but those brave people (think of how Ukrainians are fighting Russians) successfully kicked out their colonial masters. France was furious that America did not defend its interest in Indochina, but America was tired of the hypocrisy of the European powers.

The defeat of France in Indochina accelerated decolonization (“DUMP YOUR COLONIES” became a trending phrase). Reluctantly, most European powers had no choice. Britain sought an orderly transition, followed by other European powers. But for World War II, these colonies would have survived.

While war is brutal, you have to understand that we live in world dominated by superpowers, with a strong history of using force to get what what they want.

These powerful countries are in charge of the UN Security Council, a powerful body within a body that was created to distinguish them from other countries. Russia is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council that has the right to veto decisions. Yes, the superpowers can override the decisions of the General Assembly. The superpowers can collectively decide to invade other countries. The General Assembly, which consists of other countries, is powerless.

Ukrainians are true realists. They are defending their homeland. There’s no global 911 to dial. I respect their courage. They were caught in the middle of great power politics. Geography is brutal. Look at Israel. Geography almost erased it from the artificial map that was created towards the end of WWI, but it used brute force (multiple wars) to defeat all its neighbors, and, now, it is the most dominant power in that region.

Nigeria used to be a regional military power in West Africa, but, now, we can’t even defeat BH. Libya and South Africa relinquished their nuclear power pursuit. Libya would later regret doing that: Obama would later authorize the bombing of Libya, allowing the rebels to decapitate Gaddafi and others. After the initial kinetics, the West abandoned Libya. Libya is still at war, with warlords (former military officers) ruling different areas of the country.

To survive in this system, you need power and a strong will to fight. Ukrainians have the latter, but they lack the former.

Another frozen conflict has been created. And, because great powers are security guarantors for different factions in other countries, they will find a way to de-escalate at some point.