BY HIZKEL HAILU
According to some documents, the dream of Africa’s 53 sovereign states to form a United States of Africa was first conceived by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana more than fifty years ago. (Currently the AU is made up of 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the African continent). Since then, Africa has struggled to overcome a history of conflicts, which has ravaged individual countries and reflect the continued exploitation of Africa in the international arena.
In response, many African leaders have proclaimed the need for “African solutions to African problems,” calling on African states to take personal responsibility for preserving peace and stability.
The idea of ‘African solutions to African problems’ has become a convincing maxim of the AU. It is an emotive, politically charged call meant to resonate equally with governments and civil society on the continent. The maxim applies to a wide range of issues, including development, education and health, but often used in relation to peace and security.
Of course, the document that is obtained from AU’s website indicated that creating a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development is among the seven aspirations of Agenda 2063. In this regard, the AU is determined to eradicate poverty in one generation and build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the continent.
Noting that creating a high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all among the seven goals of the first aspiration, the AU is planned to end up poverty and inequalities of income and opportunity. Sharing the AU’s aspiration, the reformist leader Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) recently said a united Africa is the foundation for the growth of African continent.
“The time for Africa is now! Together we can climb faster out of the pit of poverty, insecurity and begging for dignity. Through economic integration, pooling our resources and knowledge, we can collectively realize Agenda 2063,” the premier tweeted.
Seconding the Premier’s idea, Ambassador Fitsum Arega, stated all nations of the continent will prosper when all Africans work together. Only if we stand united, we will be able to tackle the issues over the next decades, the Ambassador highlighted on his remark at the discussion forum held at Washington on September 09, 2021 with other African Ambassadors to the US for AGOAs mid-term review.
Indeed, each country of the continent has its own contribution for the implementation of “African solutions to African problems” idea. Some economists agreed that this theme has economic significance for the continent other than its political and social advantages.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, Assistant Professor under Economics Department at Bahir Dar University, Ermias Ashagre (PhD) said “African solutions to African problems” is seemingly important to enable Africa to sustain its economic independency. Knowingly or unknowingly the westerns are engaged in colonizing the continent under the name of solving Africa’s problem with their financial support and aid.
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia remains the only African country that the West tried and could not colonize, up till date Ethiopia remains un-colonized. And Ethiopia was also the first African country to defeat the colonizers in a battle that is the 1896 Battle of Adwa where the country defeated Italy.
Owing to this fact, the westerns are still striving to see the dismantled Ethiopia to create suitable environment for them to easily colonize Ethiopia through putting the country under high economic pressure. On the contrary, if the people of Africa work hard and in unison in order to lift out of poverty, it is possible to make the Westerns to put out their hand from Africa, Ermias stated.
As to him, the concept of ‘African solution to African problem’ is meant to arouse a two sense of self-reliance, responsibility, pride and ownership amongst all Africans. Adding to the point he explained that external military interventions on the continent, even under the banner of the United Nations (UN), tend to bring non-African political, economic influence and its associated problems to the continent.
He further pointed out that a number of factors can be seen as the guiding elements that led to the approval and popularity of the ‘African solutions to African problem’ maxim. Firstly, African leaders have stated that they prefer to solve their own problems and reduce the influence of external actors in continental affairs. Adding, African governments should be the ones to bear the primary responsibility for the resolution of problems and, hence, should take the lead in responding to them.
Secondly, the motivation behind this approach is that Africans have a convincing interest in local peace and stability coupled with lifting out of poverty are more familiar with local conflict dynamics compared to external states and can build trust through frequent interaction.
Thirdly, he mentioned that western states and coalitions have shown a tendency to intervene when their interests are at stake and not always simply because of the security threat thousands of Africans face in times of conflict. This is evident in how France is more likely to intervene in francophone states, and western states’ quick response to the 2011 conflict in Libya.
According to the study conducted by researcher D. Mays; in 2003, the United States of America (USA), France, and Belgium, have in the past, used different military and economic resources to keep President Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku of Zaire in power even though he was recognized as a corrupt autocratic ruler. In return for the assistance, Mobutu continued to side with the West throughout the Cold War, the study suggested.
“Therefore,” Ermias said: “The people of Africa should work in unison with their leaders through supporting the leaders’ view in a way to solve African problem by African solutions”. Applauding the progressive African visionary leaders who are striving to achieve economic wellbeing since the dawn of the last century, he also suggested that the current African leaders should work exhaustively to assure Africa’s economic prosperity.
With the formation of strong governments and institutions, Africa can alleviate poverty through using its great natural resources, wealth, despite insecurity anywhere is a threat to security everywhere with regard to the growing of globalization. Given the context of Africa’s fragile government and a legacy of incessant violent conflict, its own insecurity is serving as a source of concern for the United States and other global powers.
It is also to be recalled that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved the maxim of “African solutions for African problems”. Following the much anticipated latest round of talks held on April 6, 2021 between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Kinshasa, Congo have ended with no progress, with Egypt and Sudan attempting to politicize and internationalize the dispute. Egypt and Sudan were tried to bring the case to UNSC, not once, but four times.
On the grounds that Ethiopia was remained unwavering in its view that the dispute should only be mediated by the African Union (AU), members of the Security Council finally came to a decision that favors Ethiopia’s position. During their meeting held on July 8, 2021, the UNSC members backed the AU’s mediation efforts between the three countries, urging the parties to resume talks. This is an indication that African solution is best for solving African problems, he asserted.
The Ethiopian Herald September 18/2021
