Korea to dispatch peacekeepers to South Sudan, expand development assistance to African continent


Korea and African nations sent relations to new highs as they wrapped up the 3rd Korea-Africa Forum in Seoul on Thursday, highlighting the East Asian nation’s pledge to contribute fresh military personnel to peacekeeping efforts in the restive Darfur region and South Sudan.

The 3rd Korea-Africa Forum is the largest yet ― the marquee event of a week of “Korea-Africa Cooperation,” which brought together 150 delegates from 19 African nations and the African Union, including heads of state and foreign ministers.

Nigerian Ambassador to Korea Desmond Akawor said that Korea’s pledge to peacekeeping in South Sudan is good, but “actions speak louder than words,” adding that it is important for Korea to engage in projects that have a regional impact, signaling out areas of agriculture and infrastructure, as well as peacekeeping operations.

Korea had been mulling involvement in the Darfur peacekeeping effort, the United Nations Mission in Darfur, since as far back as 2008.

Korea agreed on Thursday to dispatch 300 military personnel to Bor, a small town north of the South Sudan capital of Juba.

“Progress has been made but more can be done,” Akawor said.

He said that Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan promised he would look into complaints of unfair treatment faced by Nigerians working and living in Korea during a one-on-one meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru, who delivered a keynote speech at the forum.

Nigeria is the second-largest oil exporter in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, last year surpassing Iran, and is the most populous country in Africa with 170 million. It opened diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1980, and it is the only African nation to have a full embassy in North Korea.

“(Kim) promised to look into normalizing the visa situation faced by about 1,000 Nigerians,” Akawor said. There are 2,000 Nigerians in South Korea.

“Korea’s approach to Africa is the right one,” said Angolan Ambassador to Korea Albino Malungo. “Korea is a genuine partner on developing Africa as a continent.” Angola opened its embassy in Korea in 2008.

Korean development assistance in the region doubled twice in six years, with about $42 million in 2006, $100 million in 2009 and more than $200 million so far this year.

“It was a good conference,” said Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Eugene S. Kayihura. “Of course, we want to attract more investment from Korea, but the relationship between Korea and Africa is a complex one. It involves agriculture, ICT, health and much more.” Like Angola, Rwanda opened its embassy here in 2008.

This coincides with a jump in Korean involvement in global affairs broadly, including notable involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

“Some 1,500 Korean personnel are deployed to 15 nations and 17 regions to actively participate in global problem solving, such as armistice observation and reconstruction support,” said Lee Young-geol, vice minister of Defense, in a speech during the forum’s peace and security session Wednesday.

In addition to its new pledge of troops for the U.N. Mission in Darfur, Korea has troops deployed with peacekeeping missions off the coast of Somalia.

The government’s troop deployment announcement comes just days after yet another soldier was killed there, this time a South African, in an ambush in which peace keepers returned fire.

It’s the second fatal attack this month, after the killing of four Nigerian troopers on Oct. 2. A total of 43 U.N. personnel have been killed since the peacekeeping force was deployed at the end of 2007.

Some 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur, Sudan’s westernmost province, since 2003, according to U.N. figures. Sudan’s government puts the death toll at 10,000.

The Roh Mu-hyun administration in 2006 initiated Korea’s robust engagement with Africa, whose economic growth is fastest in the world.

Korea’s piqued interest in Africa has generated enthusiasm in Africa for Korea, too. The number of embassies of African nations in Korea has jumped in recent years, most recently by Ethiopia. Seventeen of the 55 African nations now have full embassies here.

Seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa and, despite the global financial crisis, Africa is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year, well above the world average.

Korea struck a deal during the forum to dramatically increase development assistance in Africa and to establish a technology training center in Ethiopia.

“We have an excellent relationship with Korea,” Ethiopian Ambassador to Korea Dibaba Abdeta said.

“Korea’s engagement in Africa has seen a tremendous improvement since 2006,” said Kenyan Ambassador to Korea Ngovi Kitau. “Just look at the figures: trade growing by 60 percent in six years, investment by 80 percent and ODA by more than 260 percent.”

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Kitau said.

Korea’s African engagment is still playing catch up with China, which has long been a major investment player there, and Western nations like the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

“With its limitless potential and growth, Africa has emerged as the last growth engine of the global economy,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan in a welcome speech delivered at the beginning of the forum.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)