Author: Margaret C. Lee.

Margaret C. Lee explains the present scramble by external forces for uncontrolled access to Africa's resources and her markets. Africa finds itself once again under control in the hands of the powerful forces at the start of the twenty-first century as it was during the Cold War from 1947 to 1989. The Saving Africa argument says that Africa, primarily through increased official development assistance, is to be rescued by the Western powers. There are primarily two initiatives for the US government, which allow for a Saving Africa face to be placed on the scramble. The second initiative that the Bush administration uses to project a 'saving' Africa face is the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), which is being managed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Similarly, the US is presently negotiating an FTA with five countries in southern Africa in an effort to level the playing field with the EU.