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!!!
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