AFRICA; Brief Synopsis of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Written 2015)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/africa-brief-synopsis-yesterday-toda...
The 21st century is undoubtedly offering unique opportunities for Africa. There is ever-increasing political participation that is paving the way for greater accountability, a new developmental discourse, and ownership of the agenda. Non-existence of barriers such as cold war ideology have given Africa liberty to work towards transforming itself from a strategic and ideological battleground to a new business address for trade and development. Globalization and ICT are offering enormous opportunities for Africa to catapult towards new stages of development.
Retrospectively, it is worth noting the fact that the map of Africa is a European map of Africa, NOT an African map of Africa. Suffice it to say that current demarcations within the continent haphazardly and invalidly threw together many different indigenous groups, which in most cases initially had little or no social, political, or economic ties. However, in a bid to hasten the demise of colonialism and achieve global recognition, African leaders of the independence era were forced to accept the fiction prescribed for them, which came in the form of entities that were in fact multi-ethnic nations.
The question of “nation states vs. multi-nation states” will continue to be a contentious issue. Sates with several ethnic groups have repeatedly faced internal strife and outright civil war inspired by “breadcrumbs” (i.e., colonial legacies) from the past. An example that reached horrific scales is the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi saga in Rwanda, which ignited a genocide that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Similar religious and ethnic disputes continue in Sudan, Mali, and Nigeria. If left unchecked such legacies will continue to make collaboration even more difficult for Africa to achieve.
On that note, cohesion is a concept that has repeatedly eluded the African continent. It has been spoken of in the past, but has proved to be a case of ambitious rhetoric with inefficient and ineffective implementation. It has become crystal clear that Africa’s failure to decolonize its political-economy by confronting the past in a bid to make necessary changes has continued to impede that much-needed socio-economic and political transformation. By making post-colonial efforts to plough ahead with technically fragile and unshielded economies that were defined by low productivity and excessive dependence, it was Africa that set precedence for an inappropriate future for itself.
It is now clear writ that as the rest of the world formed much stronger and more cohesive economic ties, Africa continued to tread on a very thin line that left it economically divided, geographically fragmented, vulnerable to external manipulation, and susceptible to none other than itself. It is for good reason(s) that Africans rejoiced upon independence, but it was later to be realized – as many prominent African scholars have argued – that this “basic sovereignty calculus”, although rightfully earned and much-needed at that time, was also a lame duck!
On the contrary, the sermon “united we stand divided we fall” is a gospel that has been preached for many decades. Africa’s realization of the sense in those simple but very strong words has been unquestionably proved by African countries illustrating that they can take responsibility not only for themselves, but also for each other, and they can also (together) make historically significant policy-related decisions that can have a positive and sustainable impact on both people and country.
Therefore, whether Africa can claim the 21st century is an authentic question that is both complex and provocative. The commencement of such optimism was the formation of the African Union (AU) on July 9th, 2002, when 43 African leaders gathered in South Africa to dissolve the OAU, and transform it into the new African Union. It came as a surprise to the world, but was also quickly forgotten by the media. There was widespread skepticism about whether the AU would prove to be more effective than its predecessor. Thus far the AU has stayed true to its mandate. The climax occurred on 15th June, 2015 – during the 25th Summit of African Heads of State in Johannesburg, South Africa – when the AU officially launched negotiations towards a “Continental Free Trade Area” (CFTA), which will be built upon an already-existing foundation; the COMESA-EAC–SADC tripartite arrangement.
From a different standpoint, the “African Union Mission in Somalia” (AMISOM) is also a credible example not only of the AU’s capability, but also African countries’ willingness to merge their resources towards a common cause, which, according to dependable feedback, has thus far been a very successful venture. Countries on record for contributing troops to AMISOM are Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Also worth mentioning is Uganda’s epic Pan-African influence – which goes without saying – in the history of Rwanda (RPF) and the world’s newest nation, South Sudan (SPLA).
Inspite of impressive joint-military accomplishments such as those aforementioned, we frequently hear more about endeavors such as “Operation Uphold Democracy” (Haiti, 94 - 95), “Operation Deliberate Force” (Bosnia, 95), “Operation Desert Fox” (Iraq, 98), “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (Iraq, 2003 - 2011), etc. The western media, however, will go to great lengths to prepare extensive yet ill-informed, biased, and very inauthentic editorials on Uganda’s “dictator”, Zimbabwe’s “tyrant”, Kenya’s “ICC-indicted” President, etc. Which begs the question; is the African state “demonized” more than it is “celebrated” by the international community (…different issue for different discussion)??
One of the major challenges currently facing Africa is acceptance that the notion of the nation-state is old and outdated. It is of great importance for Africa to transcend the artificial sovereignty of existing nation-states so as to create cohesive sub-regional and federal structures. In this day and age, a hopeful future would unquestionably have to be in and around “Regional Integration”, i.e., flexible association across wide regions – as currently illustrated by the East African Community (EAC) – within which cultures can freely interact across borders so as to evolve (and dilute) their diversities by finding in them mutual needs and common interests.
It is important to note that ambition(s) for cohesion in Africa was one of the main goals of the “Fathers of Independence”. Over the years it has gradually become a major aspiration of African citizens across the continent, but unfortunately Africa has had many false starts in the past. It is hoped that the AU is not just another focus for misplaced enthusiasm. Political and economic unity in Africa is not an alien or new idea; therefore, Africa should ensure, above all else, that this time around it is not a program whereby implementation and evaluation will be imposed from elsewhere.
In that vein, elsewhere in the world the USA continues to gear up for probable “minor glitches” with Russia; historical ties between Israel and America seem to have taken an ill-fated turn; Russia is blatantly affronting the international community in unprecedented ways; North and South Korea are still glaring waiting to see who blinks first; Europe is enduring excruciating problems with Greece, which could question the EU’s authenticity; and the Chinese seem to be posing a threat to the rest of the modern world (…yet China is increasingly becoming Africa’s most valuable development partner). While all this is happening, African nations are looking neither West nor East, but are instead looking forward, as illustrated not only by the CFTA, but also by the most successful integration arrangement (i.e., the EAC), which is currently on the verge of achieving monetary union. Across the continent free movement of goods, labor, services, people, intra-regional trade, and FDI are also steadily increasing.
Interestingly, Kwame Nkrumah’s proposal for continental unity, which was not given second thought(s) during the 1963 “Founding Summit of the OAU” in Addis-Ababa, seems to be re-emerging several decades later in various forms and fora. Therefore, it would be extremely useful for Africa to re-visit some of the Pan- African proposals and projects developed by Kwame Nkrumah in the early ‘60s when he advocated for a “Union of African States”; Cheik Anta Diop, in the early ‘70s, when he defined economic and ethnic bases that would create a firm foundation for a “Federal African State”; Edem Kodjo, in the mid ‘80s, who offered a updated version of Nkrumah and Diop’s Pan-Africanist designs; and Makau wa Mutua who, in ’94, made an effort to justify the need to re-draw the map of Africa.
Without an overabundance of unsolicited and voracious external meddling, Africa will progressively continue taking matters into its own hands – as appropriately required – by decisively initiating its own socio-political “diagnoses”, having more confidence in its own economic “prescriptions”, and concertedly working towards long-term development “prognoses”. It is only by seeking out “African solutions to African problems”, as President Museveni of Uganda has rightfully stated several times, that Africa will continue on the current path, and ultimately claim the 21st century. In essence, it is not for nothing that we are currently pondering difficult questions such as “…what next for Africa…” (not what next for this, that, or the other African country).
In comparison to misdirected endeavors and mishaps in the past, one can confidently affirm that recent and current developments in Africa; the current nature of Africa’s relations with the international community; and Africa’s perception(s) of the rest of the world, and vice versa, are an indication that a new day has dawned. The “middle-ground” elite who comprise the majority of Africa’s decision-makers within the political and economic spectra are increasingly appreciating, openly acknowledging, and responsibly accepting that they will not find solutions for Africa elsewhere other than amongst themselves, and within the African continent itself. If it is true that “experience is the best teacher”, then the timing could not be better.
Africa’s past has been wrought with dreadful challenges; however, authentic data reflecting a diverse range of current trends shows that the present holds great promise, and the future is, indeed, very bright!! The “Unity of Africa” definitely will not suddenly sweep across the continent and become reality overnight, but one cannot deny the fact that it is an idea whose time has finally come.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/africa-brief-synopsis-yesterday-toda...
The 21st century is undoubtedly offering unique opportunities for Africa. There is ever-increasing political participation that is paving the way for greater accountability, a new developmental discourse, and ownership of the agenda. Non-existence of barriers such as cold war ideology have given Africa liberty to work towards transforming itself from a strategic and ideological battleground to a new business address for trade and development. Globalization and ICT are offering enormous opportunities for Africa to catapult towards new stages of development.
Retrospectively, it is worth noting the fact that the map of Africa is a European map of Africa, NOT an African map of Africa. Suffice it to say that current demarcations within the continent haphazardly and invalidly threw together many different indigenous groups, which in most cases initially had little or no social, political, or economic ties. However, in a bid to hasten the demise of colonialism and achieve global recognition, African leaders of the independence era were forced to accept the fiction prescribed for them, which came in the form of entities that were in fact multi-ethnic nations.
The question of “nation states vs. multi-nation states” will continue to be a contentious issue. Sates with several ethnic groups have repeatedly faced internal strife and outright civil war inspired by “breadcrumbs” (i.e., colonial legacies) from the past. An example that reached horrific scales is the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi saga in Rwanda, which ignited a genocide that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Similar religious and ethnic disputes continue in Sudan, Mali, and Nigeria. If left unchecked such legacies will continue to make collaboration even more difficult for Africa to achieve.
On that note, cohesion is a concept that has repeatedly eluded the African continent. It has been spoken of in the past, but has proved to be a case of ambitious rhetoric with inefficient and ineffective implementation. It has become crystal clear that Africa’s failure to decolonize its political-economy by confronting the past in a bid to make necessary changes has continued to impede that much-needed socio-economic and political transformation. By making post-colonial efforts to plough ahead with technically fragile and unshielded economies that were defined by low productivity and excessive dependence, it was Africa that set precedence for an inappropriate future for itself.
It is now clear writ that as the rest of the world formed much stronger and more cohesive economic ties, Africa continued to tread on a very thin line that left it economically divided, geographically fragmented, vulnerable to external manipulation, and susceptible to none other than itself. It is for good reason(s) that Africans rejoiced upon independence, but it was later to be realized – as many prominent African scholars have argued – that this “basic sovereignty calculus”, although rightfully earned and much-needed at that time, was also a lame duck!
On the contrary, the sermon “united we stand divided we fall” is a gospel that has been preached for many decades. Africa’s realization of the sense in those simple but very strong words has been unquestionably proved by African countries illustrating that they can take responsibility not only for themselves, but also for each other, and they can also (together) make historically significant policy-related decisions that can have a positive and sustainable impact on both people and country.
Therefore, whether Africa can claim the 21st century is an authentic question that is both complex and provocative. The commencement of such optimism was the formation of the African Union (AU) on July 9th, 2002, when 43 African leaders gathered in South Africa to dissolve the OAU, and transform it into the new African Union. It came as a surprise to the world, but was also quickly forgotten by the media. There was widespread skepticism about whether the AU would prove to be more effective than its predecessor. Thus far the AU has stayed true to its mandate. The climax occurred on 15th June, 2015 – during the 25th Summit of African Heads of State in Johannesburg, South Africa – when the AU officially launched negotiations towards a “Continental Free Trade Area” (CFTA), which will be built upon an already-existing foundation; the COMESA-EAC–SADC tripartite arrangement.
From a different standpoint, the “African Union Mission in Somalia” (AMISOM) is also a credible example not only of the AU’s capability, but also African countries’ willingness to merge their resources towards a common cause, which, according to dependable feedback, has thus far been a very successful venture. Countries on record for contributing troops to AMISOM are Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Also worth mentioning is Uganda’s epic Pan-African influence – which goes without saying – in the history of Rwanda (RPF) and the world’s newest nation, South Sudan (SPLA).
Inspite of impressive joint-military accomplishments such as those aforementioned, we frequently hear more about endeavors such as “Operation Uphold Democracy” (Haiti, 94 - 95), “Operation Deliberate Force” (Bosnia, 95), “Operation Desert Fox” (Iraq, 98), “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (Iraq, 2003 - 2011), etc. The western media, however, will go to great lengths to prepare extensive yet ill-informed, biased, and very inauthentic editorials on Uganda’s “dictator”, Zimbabwe’s “tyrant”, Kenya’s “ICC-indicted” President, etc. Which begs the question; is the African state “demonized” more than it is “celebrated” by the international community (…different issue for different discussion)??
One of the major challenges currently facing Africa is acceptance that the notion of the nation-state is old and outdated. It is of great importance for Africa to transcend the artificial sovereignty of existing nation-states so as to create cohesive sub-regional and federal structures. In this day and age, a hopeful future would unquestionably have to be in and around “Regional Integration”, i.e., flexible association across wide regions – as currently illustrated by the East African Community (EAC) – within which cultures can freely interact across borders so as to evolve (and dilute) their diversities by finding in them mutual needs and common interests.
It is important to note that ambition(s) for cohesion in Africa was one of the main goals of the “Fathers of Independence”. Over the years it has gradually become a major aspiration of African citizens across the continent, but unfortunately Africa has had many false starts in the past. It is hoped that the AU is not just another focus for misplaced enthusiasm. Political and economic unity in Africa is not an alien or new idea; therefore, Africa should ensure, above all else, that this time around it is not a program whereby implementation and evaluation will be imposed from elsewhere.
In that vein, elsewhere in the world the USA continues to gear up for probable “minor glitches” with Russia; historical ties between Israel and America seem to have taken an ill-fated turn; Russia is blatantly affronting the international community in unprecedented ways; North and South Korea are still glaring waiting to see who blinks first; Europe is enduring excruciating problems with Greece, which could question the EU’s authenticity; and the Chinese seem to be posing a threat to the rest of the modern world (…yet China is increasingly becoming Africa’s most valuable development partner). While all this is happening, African nations are looking neither West nor East, but are instead looking forward, as illustrated not only by the CFTA, but also by the most successful integration arrangement (i.e., the EAC), which is currently on the verge of achieving monetary union. Across the continent free movement of goods, labor, services, people, intra-regional trade, and FDI are also steadily increasing.
Interestingly, Kwame Nkrumah’s proposal for continental unity, which was not given second thought(s) during the 1963 “Founding Summit of the OAU” in Addis-Ababa, seems to be re-emerging several decades later in various forms and fora. Therefore, it would be extremely useful for Africa to re-visit some of the Pan- African proposals and projects developed by Kwame Nkrumah in the early ‘60s when he advocated for a “Union of African States”; Cheik Anta Diop, in the early ‘70s, when he defined economic and ethnic bases that would create a firm foundation for a “Federal African State”; Edem Kodjo, in the mid ‘80s, who offered a updated version of Nkrumah and Diop’s Pan-Africanist designs; and Makau wa Mutua who, in ’94, made an effort to justify the need to re-draw the map of Africa.
Without an overabundance of unsolicited and voracious external meddling, Africa will progressively continue taking matters into its own hands – as appropriately required – by decisively initiating its own socio-political “diagnoses”, having more confidence in its own economic “prescriptions”, and concertedly working towards long-term development “prognoses”. It is only by seeking out “African solutions to African problems”, as President Museveni of Uganda has rightfully stated several times, that Africa will continue on the current path, and ultimately claim the 21st century. In essence, it is not for nothing that we are currently pondering difficult questions such as “…what next for Africa…” (not what next for this, that, or the other African country).
In comparison to misdirected endeavors and mishaps in the past, one can confidently affirm that recent and current developments in Africa; the current nature of Africa’s relations with the international community; and Africa’s perception(s) of the rest of the world, and vice versa, are an indication that a new day has dawned. The “middle-ground” elite who comprise the majority of Africa’s decision-makers within the political and economic spectra are increasingly appreciating, openly acknowledging, and responsibly accepting that they will not find solutions for Africa elsewhere other than amongst themselves, and within the African continent itself. If it is true that “experience is the best teacher”, then the timing could not be better.
Africa’s past has been wrought with dreadful challenges; however, authentic data reflecting a diverse range of current trends shows that the present holds great promise, and the future is, indeed, very bright!! The “Unity of Africa” definitely will not suddenly sweep across the continent and become reality overnight, but one cannot deny the fact that it is an idea whose time has finally come.
AFRICA; Brief Synopsis of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
The 21st century is undoubtedly offering unique opportunities for Africa. There is ever-increasing political participation that is paving the way for…
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