adminhas to go cap in hand to seek the assistance of a former colonial master to rescue its erstwhile colony from the clutches of marauding Islamic fundamentalists. It is even more tragic that the African Union’s peace-keeping forces will hide behind the coattails of Nato forces and provide backup services to the international force that is halting the seizure of Mali — a former French colony — by Ismalist rebels. The founding fathers of the AU who formed the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa in 1963 must be turning in their graves at the latest turn of events.
The OAU had among its primary aims at inception, the need to promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and act as a collective voice for the African continent. This was important to secure Africa’s long-term economic and political future.
It would also co-ordinate and intensify the co-operation of African states in order to achieve a better life for the people of Africa. But its critical function was to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states.
The OAU was also dedicated to the eradication of all forms of colonialism as, when it was established, there were several states that had not yet won their independence or were minority-ruled. South Africa and Angola were two such countries.
These founding principles appear to have fallen off the radar of the AU with the organisation’s members divided on a number of issues. The muted response of the AU to the fall of various Governments in North Africa during the so-called Arab Spring uprisings belied its impotence.
The brutal, brazen and condescending nature of Nato’s operations in Libya provided ample proof that the AU is weak and needs to do more to stand up to the West.
Now, instead of showing true leadership, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), an arm of the AU, has sought the assistance of France and other Nato members to stop the fall of Bamako and prevent the Islamists from overrunning the country and imposing their strict form of Sharia Law.
French forces launched their first ground offensive on Wednesday following their air assault on al-Qaeda-linked Islamists occupying Mali’s North that began on 11 January. Germany also joined the fray yesterday supplying two military transport planes to fly West African troops to Bamako.
The US is providing intelligence to the French forces operating in Mali. Close to 200 Nigerian troops were due to arrive in Mali yesterday to help fight Islamist insurgents, becoming the first West African contingent to join France’s anti-rebel operation launched in Mali on Friday.
In total, 3 300 regional troops will be deployed in the conflict under a United Nations Security Council resolution. Chad has confirmed it would send 2 000 troops.
We have nothing against Nato genuinely assisting Mali to stop an Islamic takeover of the country but given the West’s history in Africa, we have reason to be skeptical of the long term interests of the international community in the West African nation.
Granted, the US and Europe are uneasy about an Al-Qaeda presence in Mali and the danger it would pose to their security but the AU should have taken the lead in helping Mali repel the Islamists’ advance on Bamako.
The leading role being played by Nato shows that the AU lacks the capacity to deal with the continent’s problems. Divisions appear to be the continental body’s Achilles heel and have hindered it from achieving its primary objectives of ensuring peace and stability in Africa.
Speaking after meeting outgoing AU chairman and Benin President Boni Yayi at State House on Tuesday, President Mugabe bemoaned the divisions among African countries and called for the integration of the African regional groups into one. He said Africans were not as united as was expected by the founders of the OAU.
“We really have not become integrated as an African people into a real union. And this is the worry, which my brother has, and the worry I have, the worry perhaps others also have. That we are not yet at that stage which was foretold by our fathers when they created this organisation.”
He said the AU founding fathers had a vision of a continent that is united politically, economically, and culturally.
“We are not there yet. As we stand here people will look at us, as me Anglophone, him Francophone, you see. There is also Lusophone, but we are Africans first and foremost. Africans, Africans! Look at our skin.
“That’s our continent, we belong to one continent. We may, by virtue of history, have been divided by certain boundaries and especially by colonialism.
“But our founding fathers in 1963 showed us the way and we must take up that teaching that we got in 1963. That we are one and we must be united,” said President Mugabe.
We totally agree with the President and urge the AU to refer back to the OAU’s founding principles and find ways of fostering unity on the continent. We should never seek the assistance of our former colonisers who are always out to protect their interests.
Africa needs to resolve its issues internally and within the confines of the AU.
Online Reporter