Let us focus on the real issues at hand!

As the 10th AU summit opened this week, important discussions over bringing about a united Africa and other issues pertaining to the continent have been held. But amidst the pomp and ceremony, one cannot help but brood over how far the AU has gone towards securing Africa’s democracy and human rights, and bringing an end to conflicts. Weak political will is an elusive issue that continues to be a challenge to African leaders. As we look back over decades and think about the vision of the founding fathers of the Organization for African Unity, we should ask ourselves, how far have we progressed in bringing about an African renaissance after decades if not centuries of injustice and exploitation? We should also ask whether any moves have been made towards releasing this dream.

Yes, our leaders meet with much fanfare. Elaborate announcements are made, and we see the continent’s leaders rubbing shoulders with each other and feeding the masses promises of a better future. But we continue to receive empty rhetoric whereby agendas are hijacked by issues that should not be stumbling blocks in the first place. When crises such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Somalia and Darfur overwhelm the attention of the continent and pretty much the rest of the world, ultimatums and frustrations on the slow pace of African integration are raised.

The Au this past week had the unique opportunity to rewrite history and deal decisively with these long overdue issues. Consider the issue of opposition parties from Zimbabwe and Kenya that were here in Addis Ababa knocking at the gates of the AU looking for ways in which the AU could play a greater role in solving the stalemates in their respective countries. What they were met with was the usual cold shoulder, as leaders continue to show solidarity with their peers. Any reproaches from heads of state have thus far occurred only after that leader in question steps down.

Politics aside, the AU could have set yet another important precedent in its six years of existence, to use the opportunity to address the opposition allegations and move towards bringing about solutions in their respective countries. After all, African unity does entail Africans standing by their fellow brothers and sisters.
The need to revamp Africa’s political culture is long overdue. The indifference of African leaders towards the plight of millions of fellow Africans should end now. Yes, this feat might be considered a Herculean effort, but the task seems taxing only because we have continued to let impunity prevail. As we continue to lament the losses Africa incurred due to the yoke of colonialism, so too our children will lament the countless missed opportunities we made towards making this continent great.

Although there is near unanimity on the need for deviating from the prevailing culture, there of course are differences views as to how it could be achieved and what form it should take. For example, at what stage should member states intervene in the “internal affairs” of other member states? This is easy when a nation is clearly gripped with turmoil, as thousands are forced to flee and armed militias rule with impunity.

Not a day passes in Africa without the urgent need for a new political culture being stressed by political and religious leaders and other concerned persons and groups in civil society. Whatever their differences of opinion on other matters, the media too lend their unstinted support for this national need. Our leaders claim to live by these same principles. What the people of Africa expect from them is nothing short of a political-cultural renaissance.


October 11, 2002