Bush says no plans for new U.S. bases in Africa

By Deborah Charles and Tabassum Zakaria

ACCRA (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that the United States was not planning to build new military bases in Africa and played down the risk of rivalry with China for influence on the continent.

Speaking in Ghana on the fourth leg of a five-nation African tour, Bush said the U.S. military command for Africa (Africom) created last year was intended to help African leaders solve the continent's crises, not boost the U.S. military presence there.

"We do not contemplate adding new bases," Bush said at a joint news conference with Ghana's President John Kufuor.

"I know there are rumors in Ghana: 'All Bush is doing is coming to try to convince you to put a big military base here.' That's baloney. Or, as we say in Texas, that's bull," Bush said.

The Bush administration created Africom with the aim of bolstering security on the continent, already a major supplier of crude oil to the American market.

U.S. officials talked initially of plans to move the Africom headquarters to Africa, but African opposition led Washington to change course. Bush said the United States could still put "some kind of office" representing Africom on the continent.

"We haven't made our minds up. It's a new concept," he said.

A base for 1,800 U.S. troops already exists in Djibouti.

Bush said the United States and China could both pursue opportunities in Africa without stoking rivalry. China's growing influence on the continent is seen by some Western diplomats as undermining efforts to encourage good governance.

China has ramped up its investment across Africa in recent years in return for access to oil, metals and other raw materials to fuel its rapidly expanding economy.

ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA

"I don't view Africa as zero sum for China and the United States. I think we can pursue agendas without creating a great sense of competition," Bush said.

"Do I view China as a fierce competitor on the continent of Africa? No I don't."

Kufuor said engagement with China was the best policy.

"It's coming not as a colonial power, as far as we can see. It's coming .... as a guest and I believe on our terms, on the terms of the African nations," he said.