FBU involvement in Africa

[unkated]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Just having a quick look at some of the areas you've suggested...Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo looks interesting...according to wiki it has supplies of copper, cobalt, tin, radium, diamonds, and uranium, although extraction might be a problem - looks like you're many hundreds of kilometres from any seaports.

Katanga was, of course, a locale of mercenary action in the 1960s.

You could have an interesting campaign of a well-stocked mercenary activity kicking off in say 1997 (when all the major powers are otherwise occupied) to seize the province, declare independence, and wait out the war and then set up for business in teh aftermath. The French could be a good early partner, lending military aid and selling equipment in exchange for raw materials. By 2001-5, they and perhaps Brazil and Argentina may be the best customers (semi-intact still-active industrial sectors).

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

If French troops are in Gabon and Cameroon there's probably a fair chance they may be in Equatorial Guinea as well - substantial oil reserves were discovered there in 1996 IRL (assuming it didn't get nuked of course).

Libya is mentioned in Mediterranean Cruise...I think it may have been nuked, but can't be certain.

Libya is a big place. If it was nuked, I would assume that someone targeted refineries or ports. Nuking very oil well out in the desert would take a lot of shots. Inefficient use of resources; if you are denying oil to your enemies, you are concerned with keeping them from exporting it.

An interesting possibility if Libya was nuked or has otherwise fallen apart would be period French military actions to seize a well, pump out a (truck) convoy's worth or oil, and then be taken off of a minor port.

Another possibility would be to lay a new pipeline to a minor unnuked port for use...

Uncle Ted