Groups with special interests in specific regions or issues, depending on their unity and financial strength are able to exert considerable influence on policymakers. They tend to draw their strength from the diasporas, or from those sharing religious beliefs. Do such interest groups exist for Africa in Western countries, and if they do, how responsive are they concerning conflict on the continent? A number of such organisations do exist, but their political power appears to be weak. This is notable considering the proportion of the diasporas in some of these Western countries. As many as 13 percent of Americans, for example, can trace their origins to Africa.
Actions by the Interest groups
Trans-Africa is a Washington-based organisation was established to increase the voice of African-Americans in US foreign policy, but it focused primarily on ending apartheid in South Africa. The organisation later turned its attention to Haiti and Nigeria, but it appeared to attract little mainstream support in the West(Berkeley, 2001: 88-90). Another group to note in the US was a loose grassroots coalition known as Liberia Watch, which successfully lobbied the USA for a 200-million-dollar aid package for Liberia.
Case of Christians response in conflict areas
Considerably stronger than these groups, however, are Christian lobby groups, who identify and attempt to aid Christians that they see are being persecuted by non-Christians. Their influence has been seen most in Sudan, and they have been both a major provider of aid in southern Sudan (controversial because it was also being used as a resource by south Sudanese rebel forces), and a political influence onpolicymakersengaged in the peace process in Sudan. It can be said, however, that the role of interest groups has been minimal in attracting sustained aid and political attention in the West for the majority of African conflicts.
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