The African Union, African Renaissance

The programs and actions that the African Union has pursued to date have shown that the Continental Union has what it takes to call the shots in the international system! What used to be a docile institution, and divided down the middle during the cold war has now arisen! The sleeping giant has been awakened to say the least! It is the potential that lies within her, her natural and human resources that has caught the eyes of various external suitors. I suppose, her potential as a fast upcoming market with an increased middle class coupled with her gradual growth overtime has made each actor in the international system to try and strike their luck by courting her! Mama Africa now is cute than never before, dazzling and awesome.., it is no longer the dark continent as they used to refer her, but a queen in the making!

From sending troops, on peace missions to maintain peace and order in countries like Somalia, Ivory Coast, the DRC, Kenya and even further trying to fast track the UNs peace keeping mission program in Central Africa Republic, the African Union has proven its wits. It has however faced a fair share of challenges for instance not coming in swiftly to aid in the Libyan crisis that saw the ousting of the Libyan hardliner Muammar Gaddafi in a horrific way! Leaving behind a country in tartars and the aftermath problems spilling to her neighbors especially Mali. The weaponry that was allegedly given to the Libyan rebels to aid in ousting Gaddafi from power were easy accessed by the Islamic extremists in the region. Lack of proper security assessment of the fragile situation in the Maghreb region then, especially on the proliferation of arms was the main reason for the recent instability in Mali, as the arms got to the wrong hands.

 The African continent also needs to deal with her intra state problems. The problems faced by African countries have resulted in little concentration on the Pan-Africanism and the African renaissance agenda. However time is ripe for the Union to rethink about the African renaissance agenda in a critical perspective.  Solving problems within the African Union spectrum is ideal, unlike depending on the external world to solve our problems every time. However though a lot need to be done within countries that compose the Union, especially on governance, poverty alleviation and economic development, holistic that is! All these are achievable and everything is in place, it’s only a matter of swinging into well calculated actions and working on them diligently.

The latest move by the African Union to salvage the shame and the cost which Kenya would have got itself in by having its head of state charged at the ICC on crimes against humanity is an awakening call, that the Union can be called upon to come together to solve problems affecting its own kind!

The true spirit of Pan-Africanism though will be to convene special head of states summits to find solutions on how to tackle pertinent issues affecting its masses especially on security, for instance in the DRC Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia where masses are not entitled to a wide range of human rights both on civil and socio-economic and cultural aspects. On food security the continent also need to find amicable solutions to tackle the problem, the same with healthcare and sanitation. Infrastructural developments especially in the transport systems (rail, road, air and even water), dams, educational and healthcare facilities needs to be developed and equipped well to meet the required standards!

Having a majority of African countries celebrating 50 years of independence soon while others have already celebrated it, as for the likes of Ghana et al, and even some having not been colonized with the case of Ethiopia and Liberia it is has reached a time for the continent to critically review her position since her independence, on political and socio-economic developments; and even better find concrete solutions to most its problems while encouraging sustainable and holistic development programs! It’s time to let mama Africa grow both in stature and in character! Let mama Africa arise and shine!!!    

A NEW DEAL FOR SOMALIA; HOW TO GO ABOUT IT!

Somalia has continually been referred by many as a failed state!  However though it still holds the title ‘a state’ and this means it is an actor in the international system, and a key one to be precise!  Somalia is one of the few countries that boast of a long coast line, a privilege that a few countries in the African continent have access to. Its proximity to the Suez Canal on the north also gives it an advantage of  exploiting the international trading conduit that if utilized can turn around this country’s economy and tremendously improve the living standards of its populace. Even better still Somalia can become a key geopolitical partner to its neighboring countries especially Ethiopia and Sudan, and even The Central African Republic! The alleged presence of chunks of natural resources namely oil and gas has since never been exploited fully given the political instability that has since rocked this country!

These vast resources that Somalia is endowed with will never see the light of the day if peace and tranquility will not be achieved! The European Union has stepped up the process, that have since been done by various parties; The United Sates, The United Nations, Ethiopia, Kenya and the African Union western funded peace keeping forces under the abbreviation name AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia).  

The recent Brussels conference affirmed yet again the will of the European Union, through the ‘New Deal’ to restore peace and enable implementation of prioritized state building goals. The Union pledged a whopping 2.4 billion dollars to Somalia. This is amount is almost eight times higher than the previous amount that had been pledged in London later on this year as the union had pledged, 300 million dollars.

These turn of events points out a positive trajectory on stability of Somalia. It is also a sigh of relief to her neighbors; that have since been forced to put up with the scourge of an anarchic neighbor! Countries bordering Somalia have had problems resulting from militias and terrorists affiliated groups, proliferations of small arms and an influx of refugees to mention the least.

 The rag tagged militia Al -Shabaab, however rubbished the grant in what I perceive as a shudder from the fear of the growing stability of the main government in which they are planning to ouster. Their claim on twitter that the grant “...is a bit like Belgian Waffles: sweet on the outside but really has not much substance to it” should be ashamed and the militia made toothless through the success of the ‘marshal plan’.

The success of The New Deal signed in 2011 by over 40 countries, will greatly be measured on the reconstruction outcome from Somalia. A positive outcome from the 2.4 billion dollar grant which will be channeled to the process of reconstructing the economy and its social aspects will be tantamount to success of the Union. The political aspect which is fragile should be handled systemically through incorporating thee society in defining what kind of system they want for their nation.

Key sectors that the funds need to deliver tangible results should be on infrastructural development key among them being; healthcare, education and on food security mechanisms! The progress on security should also be enabled even more! With this in place citizens will have access basic needs. Developing the transport sector will also increase mobility of the populace thus opening avenues that will heighten their opportunities in life and also opening up the country for increased development.

Amidst all these development programs the citizens should be incorporated in building their country in any way possible! This will make them own the projects and the infrastructure being established and importantly it will make them earn a living. Administration fee should be minimized at all costs and bureaucracy be avoided completely.

With a stable, food secure, good healthcare and a well-established education system the Somalis can be on their feet once again! Europe too will have returned the invaluable favor to humanity, the way they US had did during the aftermath of WWII. The international system will be glad to welcome yet again a self-reliant and a peaceful Somalia! >Read my last blog on Somalia  here >> http://is.gd/VBr50Z