AFRICA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

AFRICA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

This topic is largely concern with the relationship and cooperation between African nations among themselves and cooperation between African and the outside world. We shall concentrate much on regional integration between African nations and also relationship with international organizations by examining the objectives, achievements, impacts and challenges. In our sub topics will include the following:

·         The African Unity (AU)

·         The East African Community (EAC)

·         The Southern African Development Community (SADC)

·         The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

·         The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

·         The Common Wealth Nations

Continental Cooperation

Continental cooperation was facilitated by the social, political and economic exploitation imposed on Africans. Through these the African people realized the need for cooperation and the consciousness that they share a common destiny. So they decided to cooperate with the view to overcome their terrible situation. Hence they started by establishing Pan African Unity in the Diaspora and the ultimate emergence of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) as well as African Unity (AU) and various regional groupings have emerged in the continent.

The Objectives of Establishing Continental Co-operation

Analyse the objectives of establishing continental co-operation

Objectives of establishing continental cooperation

·         To preserve political independence and freedom

·         To preserve African culture from destruction

·         To protect African dignity

·         Unifying Africans in the struggle against political oppression

·         To challenge the ideology of European supremacy which undermines African political independence, economic stability and cultural civilization

·         To fight against economic exploitation including land alienation, poor wages and forcedlabour.

Problems resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation and their impacts on Africa

·         Interference by external powers in the affairs of the African continent, the notoriouspowers like USA, Britain, France and former Soviet Union provides support in form offinances and armaments to different African states and by so doing divided African statesby persuading them to take side during disputes involving these major power.

·         Disputes involving different member states especially over boundaries greatly underminethe continental unity. In fact the member states engaged in war over boarder disputes,some of these wars include Ghana and Togo, Algeria and Morocco, Ethiopia andSomalia/Eritrea as well a Cameroon and Nigeria.

·         Personality differences between African leaders for example personality differenceexperienced between president Museveni of Uganda and president Bashir of Sudan in1980s and 1990s and between Idd Amin of Uganda and President J.K. Nyerere ofTanzania in the 1970s.

·         Dependency on former colonial masters, several times African countries ask support fromtheir former colonial masters especially in the face of political threat from neighboringAfrican states rather than seeking the continental body support hence existence of Britainand French military bases in different African countries up to date.

·         Persuading national interests at the expense of the continental interests and therebyundermined the continental spirit promoted by the organization.

·         Ideological differences

·         Violation of human rights by the leaders for example member countries have continuedto support president Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who has already been indicated for abusefor human rights in Darfur.

·         Lack of common position toward issues further waters down some of the decisions andopinions of the organization.

·         Unable to meet organization objectives in the absence of external support due to relyingon financial support from more economically advanced nations and the United Nations,in order to fund some of the program.

·         Terrorism, for example in 2010 Uganda faced bomb attack which killed over 70 people.This was carried out to punish Uganda for sending AU troops to serve in Somalia.

The Achievements and Problems Resulting from the Establishment of Continental Co-Operation and their Impact on Africa

Explain the achievements and problems resulting from the establishment of continental co-operation and their impact on Africa

Problems resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation and their impacts on Africa

·         Interference by external powers in the affairs of the African continent, the notoriouspowers like USA, Britain, France and former Soviet Union provides support in form offinances and armaments to different African states and by so doing divided African statesby persuading them to take side during disputes involving these major power.

·         Disputes involving different member states especially over boundaries greatly underminethe continental unity. In fact the member states engaged in war over boarder disputes,some of these wars include Ghana and Togo, Algeria and Morocco, Ethiopia andSomalia/Eritrea as well a Cameroon and Nigeria.

·         Personality differences between African leaders for example personality differenceexperienced between president Museveni of Uganda and president Bashir of Sudan in1980s and 1990s and between Idd Amin of Uganda and President J.K. Nyerere ofTanzania in the 1970s.

·         Dependency on former colonial masters, several times African countries ask support fromtheir former colonial masters especially in the face of political threat from neighboringAfrican states rather than seeking the continental body support hence existence of Britainand French military bases in different African countries up to date.

·         Persuading national interests at the expense of the continental interests and therebyundermined the continental spirit promoted by the organization.

·         Ideological differences

·         Violation of human rights by the leaders for example member countries have continuedto support president Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who has already been indicated for abusefor human rights in Darfur.

·         Lack of common position toward issues further waters down some of the decisions andopinions of the organization.

·         Unable to meet organization objectives in the absence of external support due to relyingon financial support from more economically advanced nations and the United Nations,in order to fund some of the program.

·         Terrorism, for example in 2010 Uganda faced bomb attack which killed over 70 people.This was carried out to punish Uganda for sending AU troops to serve in Somalia.

Achievement resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation on Africa

·         Tackling disputes experienced in the African continent for example post-electionviolence in Kenya in 2007, the AU sent a group of eminent to assist in tackling the crisis,not only that but also during the post election violence in Zimbabwe the AU helped tomediate in the crisis between Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe.

·         Supporting regional cooperation including the formation of EAC, SADC and ECOWAS

·         Enhancing democracy and good management of economies

·         Interfering with countries facing threats of conflicts or war.

·         Provision of an important forum where independent African states could sit and discussthe issues facing their continent.

·         Supporting the national liberation movements in Africa against colonialism, theassistance was provided in form of shelter, funds, weapon, training facilities andexpertise as well as logistics. For example the OAU liberation committee which wasbased in Dar es salaam, Tanzania assisted liberation movements all over the continent toeradicate colonialism.

·         Promotion of economic, social and technical advancement in the continent. Through theAfrican Development Bank (ADB), member states have benefited from financialassistance which has facilitated the expansion of infrastructural development in thecontinent.

·         Promotion of communication in the continent by developing postal, telecommunications,radio and television networks in Africa.

·         Promotion of social and cultural heritage in the continent through All Africa Games thatwere held every four years, peoples from across the continent interacted throughparticipation in different sports such as soccer, athletics and other sporting activities.