>>5930458The advisor cleared his throat, then said.
"Sir, there is another factor that you need to be aware of. There is a new organization that has emerged in Africa, called <span class="mu-r"><span class="mu-s">Peace in Africa, or PIA</span>. It is a rival and a challenge to the AU, and it has a different agenda and a different vision for the continent."
The Marshal raised his eyebrows, then asked.
"What is this PIA? Who are its members? And what do they want?"
The advisor explained.
"PIA is a coalition of mostly southern African countries, such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique. It also has some members from other regions, such as Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Ghana, all four pieces of the former DRC, and Liberia. PIA claims to be a more effective and a more responsive organization than the AU, and it says it is committed to bringing peace and stability to Africa, by any means necessary. PIA is quicker to deploy troops and to intervene in conflicts, without waiting for the AU's approval or authorization. PIA also has a strong backing from Russia, especially from the regime of President Pretashinko, who is the main sponsor and the main influencer of PIA."
The Marshal frowned, then asked.
"Russia? Pretashinko? What do they have to do with Africa?"
The advisor answered.
"Russia has a lot of interests and ambitions in Africa, sir. It wants to expand its influence and its presence in the continent, to counter the US and China, and to secure its access to natural resources, such as oil, gas, diamonds, and uranium. Russia also wants to project its power and its prestige in the world, and to show that it is a global player and a leader. Russia sees Africa as a strategic partner and a potential ally, and it tries to cultivate strong and loyal relationships with African leaders and governments. Russia also sees Africa as a testing ground and a proving ground, for its military and its ideology. Russia wants to shape Africa according to its own image and its own interests, and it uses PIA as a tool and a proxy to achieve that."
"Pretashinko is the president of Russia. He is the mastermind and the driving force behind PIA, and a former Detective in Moscow law enforcement, who rose to power after a popular election and uprising in 1999, overthrowing the corrupt and weak regime of Boris Yeltsin. He is a ruthless and charismatic leader, who has consolidated his control over Russia, and who has restored its glory and its strength. He is also a law and order socialist, who believes in a strong, organized state, that provides for the welfare and the security of its citizens, but that also demands their obedience and their loyalty. His regime has compromised with it's many ethnic minorities and regions attempting to break away, in exchange for their loyalty and commitment of troops to the Russian army."
The advisor placed a map on the table and then rotated it so that The Marshal could see several regions of Russia that were given some autonomy.</span>
