BY ADDISALEM MULAT
The decision of the African Union to hold the summit in its headquarter—Addis Ababa—is a continuation of the continent’s support to Ethiopia and it denotes that Ethiopia remains at the heart of the pan-African struggle. A lot has been said by the naysayers about the summit not to be held in Addis Ababa under the guise of the conflict in the northern parts of Ethiopia.
As a matter of fact, the pronouncement of member states of the African Union (AU) to convene the AU meeting in Addis Ababa managed to throw cold water on the endeavors of those who every so often have been pulling out all the stops to put their ill deeds in place. They were unremittingly saying the nation is moving into uncharted territory and getting themselves involved in a smear campaign against Ethiopia behind closed curtains.
Notwithstanding the fact that the doomsayers know like the palm of their hand the existing reality on the ground, they hate to death familiarizing the international community with the unvarnished truth surfacing in the length and breadth of the nation. However, in the fullness of time, for understanding the truth, the African Union made up its mind to convene the AU meeting in Addis Ababa and foiled the scaremongers’ evil deeds. A number of scholars have forwarded their views in this regard.
Regarding the issue former Kenyan parliament deputy speaker Farah Maalim said that the 35th Ordinary session of the African Union (AU) is a defining moment for Africa as the continent wants its voice to be heard globally. The former deputy speaker stated that the summit has come when Africa has many pressing issues as a continent, in the interview he gave to ENA.
“The Summit is anessential moment for Africa as it is of significantly useful in helping Africa to get its voice heard loud globally. And the continent is not begging anybody. Africa is asserting itself as a continent with more than a billion people and more untapped resources as well as the youngest population.”
The 35th ordinary session is therefore highly anticipated to pass bold decisions for the betterment of the continent, Maalim stated. According to him, the summit is coming at a critical juncture for the heads of states and governments in the continent that would enable them to think inwards instead of outwards.
Elaborating on this point, the former deputy speaker noted that there are currently tremendous pressures from some countries of the Western world against some AU member countries that desire to impose neocolonialism. Africa should have the courage to manage such interference, the Kenyan deputy speaker stressed.
“Africa should be bound basically to go back to itself like the founding time, the very original time it was founded in which the heads of states have got to be thinking inwards instead of outwards. Inwards in the sense that to think inside Africa like inter-Africa trade, African solutions to the problems that the continent is facing.”
The speaker also underlined that some of the Western powers are still seeking more exploitation of untapped African resources and they are reinforcing unwarranted interferences, adding that “Africa needs now to come together and say no more.”
He further said, “The Western world particularly wants to change regimes and they want to put their people on us. So Africa needs now to come together and say no more. I think that is a very powerful message and it has been taken by fortunately also the millions of Africans who live in the diaspora that see exactly what the true nature of the Western white is.”
Accordingly, the former deputy speaker believes that the 35th Summit of the African Union has to be seen as an important event for leaders of the continent that are going to settle African problems and register a lot of success to accelerate all-around regional integration.
Maalim also urged every African head of state that comes to this assembly to stand up to be counted and not to be an apologist for Western interference. The summit of the Union is going to be held at its headquarters in Addis Ababa after a series of virtual conferences due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
In a symposium held here recently under the motto ‘Africanism and the role of Diaspora.’ a Ghanaian renowned beauty pageant SetorNorgbe (MD) stated that Africans are the same and their culture is almost identical. “Beautiful people, beautiful culture, beautiful hospitality, and a very loving people. If all African brothers will come together to unite, to support everybody, every country one after the other, Ghanaian supporting Ethiopians, Ethiopians supporting Ghanaian, Ghanaian supporting Nigerians, Nigerians supporting South Africans, then we would see that we are truly one people.”
The well-known Ethiopian-American journalist HermelaAregawi said that fear and suspicion is exactly what Western propaganda uses to divide Africans one another. Besides, it is high time to well disprove their propaganda and trek on the right path to come up with common growth via consolidating unity and fraternity among all Africans as there are enemies both inside and outside.
“The best way to push back against Western propaganda is not enough to say what they are saying is wrong. We are not destined for war, we are not destined for famine, and we are not destined for tribalism. This is what we are destined for unity; we are destined to celebrate each other economic development.”
Be that as it may, speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Ambo University Political Science Lecturer Solomon Teffera stated that the UNSC does not involve Africa when it passes resolutions and other decisions about the continent. Therefore, the upcoming 35th AU Summit is expected to encourage Africans to make a united appeal to obtain a permanent seat in the world’s most powerful decision-making body.
The Charter, driven from the colonial ideology of the Berlin Conference, targeted at scrambling of Africa. The secret behind prohibiting Africa from the UNSC is paving the way to impose individuals’ political interests on Africa directly through the collective set of the IMF and World Bank.
Business and Economics Lecturer at Ambo University TeshomeDula (Ph.D.) on his part said that resolutions and other decisions passed by UNSC without representation of Africa do not consider facts on the ground. “Based upon the facts on the ground, Africa represents more population than some of the veto-wielding states such as France, UK and U.S. put together.”
As to him, this unfair representation exposes Africa to political pressure through loans and donations. The academician advised African’s come unite to fight against unfair and unbalanced decisions by UNSC without representation of Africa.
The AU Peace and Security Council should strengthen Pan- Africanism and make sure those countries have a chance to participate temporarily in the UNSC to deliver collective engagements rather than reflecting self-interest before the end of their term.
Having permanent representation at UNSC has its own economic importance. It allows Africa to use their veto power, get an opportunity to maintain self-determination on African affairs without the intervention of any external bodies, Teshome emphasized.
In an interview with local media, GetachewMekonnen, State and Nation Building Researcher at the Institute of Strategic Affairs stated that the coming of leaders of various African countries, heads of international organizations, renowned diplomats, and representatives of various communities to Ethiopia for the conference is of great benefit to Ethiopia.
In addition to foiling the conspiracies of some foreign forces, the conference will have an important role for Ethiopia to improve its influence in the continent, the researcher stated adding that it will also help Ethiopia strengthen its historic status quo in Africa.
The researcher further noted that the coming of the aforementioned guests to Ethiopia helps the international community to better understand the current situation in Ethiopia and to refrain from interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
The coming of representatives of various communities to Ethiopia will help strengthen people-to-people cooperation in Africa, Getachew indicated. As to him, another benefit of the event for Ethiopia is conference tourism that inspires the hospitality industry.
Meanwhile, the researcher insisted that all expenditures of the African Union should be covered only by Africans to ensure the independence and sovereignty of the member states. He added that agendas approved by different conferences should be implemented properly.
The Ethiopian Herald February 2/2022
