U.S. Aid to Africa Is Increasingly Military

U.S. aid to Africa is becoming increasingly militarized, resulting in skewed priorities and less attention to longer-term development projects that could lead to greater stability across the continent, according to a report released by the advocacy group Refugees International.

The report warns that the Defense Department is usurping funds traditionally directed by the State Department and U.S. aid agencies.

The Pentagon, which controlled about 3 percent of official aid money a decade ago, now controls 22 percent. Meanwhile the U.S. Agency for International Development's share has declined from 65 percent to 40 percent, according to the 56-page report.

"The danger is this strategy will not achieve the security objectives of addressing the root causes of terrorism," said Mark Malan, author of the report. "And it certainly won't address the developmental objectives of U.S. foreign policy."

[Excerpt of article by Stephanie McCrummen, Washington Post]