adminserious geo-political problems that put the African Union leaders in quandary over the continental body’s ability or inability to handles its own black spots.
What happed in Libya immediately replays in the minds of many progressive Africans. When does a foreign commander stop and with whose instruction?
It is fact not fiction that Africa should completely avoid using foreign troupes, whose commanders take instructions from elsewhere. It is typical of hunting with a neighbour’s dogs that will bite you when you want to take the catch.
Obviously the rebels cannot and should not be encouraged to do what they were doing in that country but, the invention by the French equally, raises eyebrows over the African Union’s ability to deal with its member state.
The whirlwind arrival of French troops in Mali and the subsequent heavy bombardment of rebel positions north of the country, might have brought relief to the Government of that country. It however is wrong, from an African perspective.
While the leaders in the Economic Community of West Africa talked in closed doors at a snail’s pace and the African Union waited for a decision from the regional block, French planes were already at work.
It immediately brings to the fore many important questions: When will the African Union use African soldiers to deal with hot spots?
When will African politics be in the destiny of Africans? When are we, as Africans going to be able to say no to foreign intervention? And, why should Africa surrender the political destiny of its member state to France, a former colonial master?
A lion shepherding goats and sheep?
Of course we also know that the rapid Islamisation of North Africa caused by coups and civil wars, organised with the support of the United States of America is a “time bomb”, which Americans, being in another part of the world, leave to the whole African continent, exposed to.
Under such circumstances, countries where the population is divided mainly between Christians and Muslims, are mostly affected. Mali is one such country.
There are also real risks of increase of terrorism, demographic pressure on some countries – members of the African Union and threats to their energy security.
African continent is now mostly subjected to domestic problems such as political and economic crises, civil wars, coups, etc. at the same time Africa has sufficient resources to deal with these problems on its own and all of them should be resolved within the framework of the African Union.
In this situation external interference, especially of the West, can only worsen the situation.
That’s why it is necessary to eliminate the physical presence of US troops on the continent even in the case of Washington’s participation in peacekeeping missions conducted not only under UN mandate, but under the auspices of the African Union and other sub-regional organisations.
American intentions in Africa should be transparent to the management of the African Union and to the governments of the countries where the US military contingent is deployed.
US troops should be gradually withdrawn from the territory of those states and performing by them tasks and their equipment transferred to the local side.
The ongoing competition between US and China for influence in Africa and for its resources detrimentally affects the internal stability of the region.
In these conditions African governments should give priority to the development of cooperation with countries, which pursue a goal of formation mutually beneficial relations with Africa and historically proved their commitment to true liberation and development of the African countries.
So when the AU summit runs this month end it is very critical for African leaders to come up with a clear cut criteria on how the invite foreign soldiers.
By and large the most effective way and the most critical thing for Africa today, is its ability to control political and economic power.
The ability to trade and do business with anyone in the world without undue pressure from the west and its allies.
Up to today, it defies logic why and how African Union fails to come up with its own troupes, given that its regional bodies like Sadc and Ecowas have standby brigades that only need to be summoned for duty.
It is not an impossibility because as we speak many African countries have send their soldiers and policemen to do UN duties all over the world and the professional standards have been very high.
So the manpower is there and in the case of Mali, the government of that country can easily bankroll an UA force. Why then should Africa look to the French.
This article cannot be complete until we are all able to find out what the French intend to benefit from the operation in Mali. In fact we should find out what the French are indeed up to.
At the end of the operation, will AU be bale to say enough is enough for the French, when it feels the French should leave?
Africa still has a long way to go. We are always so near yet too far away from liberating ourselves. DayAfrica.com
Professor Ray Haji writes for DayAfrica.com
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter