Frank Tietie, Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), has accused foreign economic hitmen of secretly fueling insurgencies across Africa to exploit the continent’s vast natural resources.
Tietie made this claim while speaking on Channel Africa’s Africa in Business Podcast on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, monitored by Persecondnews. He alleged that these individuals and groups, operating under the guise of economic advisors or development workers, manipulate African economies through unsustainable loans, political interference, and resource exploitation.
“Economic hitmen are professionals who pose as altruistic advisors but are actually working to serve the interests of their home countries or corporate sponsors,” Tietie stated. He added that their tactics, which were prominent between the 1960s and 1990s, have resurfaced in recent years, with devastating consequences for African nations.
Tietie linked these covert activities to the recent scandal surrounding the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria. He referenced U.S. Congressman Scott Perry’s claims that USAID has been indirectly funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, through mismanaged financial aid.
During the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, Perry alleged that USAID channels approximately $697 million annually, including cash shipments, to groups linked to terrorism. He also questioned USAID’s effectiveness, citing a $136 million project to build 120 schools in Pakistan with “zero evidence” of their existence.
Tietie further warned that economic hitmen often collaborate with intelligence agencies, using debt traps and political destabilization as tools of control. He cited China’s “debt diplomacy” strategy as another method foreign powers use to tighten their grip on Africa’s resources.
“Their actions have profoundly destabilized Africa, fueling political crises and violent conflicts, particularly in nations rich in minerals like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Libya,” he said.
Tietie’s revelations have sparked concerns about the role of international financial institutions and donor agencies in Africa’s security and economic stability. He called for increased vigilance and stronger policies to protect the continent from external economic manipulation.
