Dreams up in Smoke
Decision on a union government isn’t as easy as purchasing arms... A note by Karim Ja’fari
The 12th African Union summit ended in Addis Ababa on Monday. The summit, not attended by some African leaders, centered around the controversial issue of forming a united African government or a United States of Africa, unusual suggestions of the Libyan leader, so to open a new chapter in intra-continental relations.
After changing its name from Organization of African Unity to African Union –imitating the European Union- the organization now wants to move one step further and by forming the United States of Africa it tends to bring countries of the Dark Continent closer. But as Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Chairman of the African Union and Tanzanian president stated, African leaders are concerned over the restrictions that a union government may bring to their authority. This reveals some secrets of the continent.
More than 50 African countries have undergone a period of colonialism, and through the recent decades have witnessed a multitude of coups, domestic strife and wars. There are a scant number of countries which have had a stable rule of law. This clearly shows why there are worries among African rulers about a union government which may restrict their unaccountable domination over citizens.
Muammar Gaddafi, who is one pioneer in setting forth new ideas in the African Union, has clinched power for more than four decades in Libya. In fact, he has turned the country into a property himself and his sons. No individual is able to question his rule. In a country like Egypt during the last three decades there have ruled only three presidents –read kings- who stay in power as long as they breath. In Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Congo, Nigeria and most of the other African countries it is either that the presidency is a life-long position or is seized by a coup supported by foreign countries and with the courtesy of lead bullets.
Let’s not forget rampant unrests in Africa that have cast a spell upon continent. For the last 20 years Somalia hasn’t had a stable authority and central government is a meaningless term in this country. The Sudanese leader is under prosecution of an Argentinean judge and rebels want to tear his country apart from north and south. There are border conflicts between this country and Chad, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Algeria and Morocco have problems over Western Sahara. Cameron and Nigeria are still in on standby in their shared border and in Congo not only the domestic strife continues, but also armies of the neighboring countries enjoy meddling.
Another part of the story goes back to the glaring cultural difference between African countries, particularly north Africans and south Africans, which is a matter of race and religion. In a country like Nigeria where there are great populations of both Christians and Muslims, occasional bloodsheds happen. Religious difference caused separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia. And with Western countries’ green light the Ethiopian army invaded Muslim Somalia. Colonial history has caused other problems for Africa. The continent is divided between Anglophone and Francophone countries, each having language, political and economic ties with their colonizer. Meanwhile, another actor has entered Africa: United States with its superior power and wealth. After the Cold War, the superpower has decided to enter a competition against France and Britain to gain a share of the African market, sometimes leading to atrocious massacres like the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda which was an outcome of political rivalry between the United States and France.
With regard to all these problems, proceedings of the 12th African Union summit weren’t unexpected, and despite what optimist leaders of the continent think, political progress is not like purchasing arms which can be done with a few sessions of negotiations. Aged African leaders are neither willing to resign nor awaiting for death.
After changing its name from Organization of African Unity to African Union –imitating the European Union- the organization now wants to move one step further and by forming the United States of Africa it tends to bring countries of the Dark Continent closer. But as Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Chairman of the African Union and Tanzanian president stated, African leaders are concerned over the restrictions that a union government may bring to their authority. This reveals some secrets of the continent.
More than 50 African countries have undergone a period of colonialism, and through the recent decades have witnessed a multitude of coups, domestic strife and wars. There are a scant number of countries which have had a stable rule of law. This clearly shows why there are worries among African rulers about a union government which may restrict their unaccountable domination over citizens.
Muammar Gaddafi, who is one pioneer in setting forth new ideas in the African Union, has clinched power for more than four decades in Libya. In fact, he has turned the country into a property himself and his sons. No individual is able to question his rule. In a country like Egypt during the last three decades there have ruled only three presidents –read kings- who stay in power as long as they breath. In Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Congo, Nigeria and most of the other African countries it is either that the presidency is a life-long position or is seized by a coup supported by foreign countries and with the courtesy of lead bullets.
Let’s not forget rampant unrests in Africa that have cast a spell upon continent. For the last 20 years Somalia hasn’t had a stable authority and central government is a meaningless term in this country. The Sudanese leader is under prosecution of an Argentinean judge and rebels want to tear his country apart from north and south. There are border conflicts between this country and Chad, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Algeria and Morocco have problems over Western Sahara. Cameron and Nigeria are still in on standby in their shared border and in Congo not only the domestic strife continues, but also armies of the neighboring countries enjoy meddling.
Another part of the story goes back to the glaring cultural difference between African countries, particularly north Africans and south Africans, which is a matter of race and religion. In a country like Nigeria where there are great populations of both Christians and Muslims, occasional bloodsheds happen. Religious difference caused separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia. And with Western countries’ green light the Ethiopian army invaded Muslim Somalia. Colonial history has caused other problems for Africa. The continent is divided between Anglophone and Francophone countries, each having language, political and economic ties with their colonizer. Meanwhile, another actor has entered Africa: United States with its superior power and wealth. After the Cold War, the superpower has decided to enter a competition against France and Britain to gain a share of the African market, sometimes leading to atrocious massacres like the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda which was an outcome of political rivalry between the United States and France.
With regard to all these problems, proceedings of the 12th African Union summit weren’t unexpected, and despite what optimist leaders of the continent think, political progress is not like purchasing arms which can be done with a few sessions of negotiations. Aged African leaders are neither willing to resign nor awaiting for death.