By Al-Khedr Abdul Baqi, IOL Correspondent
ABUJA, July 18 (IslamOnline.net) - A proposed American initiative to reach out to the Muslims in Africa 's Sub-Sahara will not shine up the image of Washington tarnished by its policies in the Arab and Muslim world, an African expert said on Sunday, July18 .
"Hatred toward the United States is growing among the Muslims in Africa South of the Sahara due to its unfair position on the Arab and Islamic causes," Hadi Galo, an expert on Islamic affairs from Guinea, told IslamOnline.net.
But he admitted that some vulnerable Muslims could be lured by the US aid and relief work as they live below the line of poverty.
The new proposed initiative was co-authored by an elite of American politicians and former decision makers from the Democratic and Republican parties who report to Congress.
The joint committee included former assistant secretary of state Walter Kansteiner and retired General Carlton W. Fulford, deputy commander of the US troops in Africa .
The initiative, parts of which were published on July 12by South Africa's Inter Press Service news agency, is primarily designed to undermine the activities of "terrorist" organizations targeting the American US interests in the continent.
The American experts suggested allocating $ 200million to finance educational programs and Islamic aid projects to do away with relief work provided by mainly Saudi charities.
Furthermore, they stressed the importance of increasing US investments in the promising oil and gas sectors as latest projections show that Africa could supply the United States with 20 percent of its oil exports by2015 .
Improving the living standards of the African people is also a pressing issue, which serves best the US interests in the region, the American politicians said.
Fundamentalism
The proposed initiative warned against the spreading "Islamic fundamentalism" in western Africa and the Horn of Africa.
It said the Muslim population in the continent has exceeded 300 million people, making Africa a fertile ground for recruiting "extremist Islamic fundamentalists".
The document voiced deep concerns about Somalia , regarding it a hotbed for "terrorist elements" and a transit for Al-Qaeda operatives.
It said Africa should remain high on the agenda of the US administration irrespective of the outcome of the November presidential elections.
In so doing, it recommended consolidating the US military participation in multi-national peacekeeping forces throughout Africa and doubling the effort in countries dominated by Muslims.
Several hundred US Special Forces are active in east Africa to capture or kill suspected Al-Qaeda fugitives and other targets as a new front in the so-called war on terror.
Between 200 and 500 Special Forces moved to a French military base at Djibouti in2002 .
The US army has recently conducted military drills with the Kenyan army near the Somali-Kenyan borders.