I know many who will call that the wrong question to be asking at this time and I could agree with them.
It seems there can be no meaningful development in the black continent unless it unites and break down the barriers of boundaries.
So maybe the question we should be asking is should Africa unite now?
My answer will be no!
I can tackle this from various directions. The conclusion will always be the same.
Leadership
My first point is the shallowness of leadership or 'ruler-ship'; as it seems, in most countries. It is completely impossible to think that the present crop of self-effacing, corrupt leaders will in anyway want to relinquish power that they believe was bestowed on them by oracles. It seems ridiculous to me that the Libyan President, Muammar Al-Gaddafi is spearheading the campaign for African Unity, unless it is his ambition to rule Africa. That man believes Libya belongs to him, so how will he react if it was to be controlled from elsewhere. Sometimes, I think we should allow him to dig his own grave. And I can go on to mention Robert Mugabe and Yahya Jammeh and many others. As long as Africa allows despots to rule it, we can forget about unity government, at least in practical terms.
Economic Integration
Most African countries trade more with the Western Countries, particularly UK and US, than with the entire African continent. Why the hell will I want a unity government and economic integration with people I just sell salt to?
Forgive me, but that makes no economic sense.
We are so dependant on outside influences such as the US, UK, France, Germany, and recently China, that it begs the question whether we are really a continent or merely co-existing and separated by boundaries. Forget the economic communities and the nonsense about increased regional integration; there is nothing integrated about African countries, apart from food, clothes, poverty and drumming and dancing.
And yet, I don't believe there is anything that prevents the continent from being self-sufficient...nothing at all. But will it?
Trust
The fragmented nature of Africa means it can hardly trust itself. Here, I point fingers at countries such as Thabo Mbeki's South Africa and the North African Countries.
The 'rich' South Africa, the so well known symbol of Africa to the Western world is hardly African...really. It is more like a Western country managed by a few black men.
Forgive my 'un-patriotism', but I can not see it in any other way. South Africa is not 'black' and cannot be trusted to be 'African'
The North African countries are more ready to be known as 'Arabs' than 'Africans'. So why will they even think of African Unity? It will not happen for them.
Trust is the cornerstone of unity and Africa lacks that.
The Way Forward...
Africa will unite...I believe it. I can say it is almost inevitable but it will take the present generation to start the process. The foundation of the process must be building trust and co-operation between countries. The unity should be spontaneous and not forced, as the countries become so dependant on each other that separate governance is no longer an option.
Commentators should also realise that African unity is not a 'Pan-African thing' and should stop referring to the 'black man', Nkrumah and all that nonsense.
It is about development and the 'salvation' of the millions of Africans impoverished by disunity and lack of direction.
It seems there can be no meaningful development in the black continent unless it unites and break down the barriers of boundaries.
So maybe the question we should be asking is should Africa unite now?
My answer will be no!
I can tackle this from various directions. The conclusion will always be the same.
Leadership
My first point is the shallowness of leadership or 'ruler-ship'; as it seems, in most countries. It is completely impossible to think that the present crop of self-effacing, corrupt leaders will in anyway want to relinquish power that they believe was bestowed on them by oracles. It seems ridiculous to me that the Libyan President, Muammar Al-Gaddafi is spearheading the campaign for African Unity, unless it is his ambition to rule Africa. That man believes Libya belongs to him, so how will he react if it was to be controlled from elsewhere. Sometimes, I think we should allow him to dig his own grave. And I can go on to mention Robert Mugabe and Yahya Jammeh and many others. As long as Africa allows despots to rule it, we can forget about unity government, at least in practical terms.
Economic Integration
Most African countries trade more with the Western Countries, particularly UK and US, than with the entire African continent. Why the hell will I want a unity government and economic integration with people I just sell salt to?
Forgive me, but that makes no economic sense.
We are so dependant on outside influences such as the US, UK, France, Germany, and recently China, that it begs the question whether we are really a continent or merely co-existing and separated by boundaries. Forget the economic communities and the nonsense about increased regional integration; there is nothing integrated about African countries, apart from food, clothes, poverty and drumming and dancing.
And yet, I don't believe there is anything that prevents the continent from being self-sufficient...nothing at all. But will it?
Trust
The fragmented nature of Africa means it can hardly trust itself. Here, I point fingers at countries such as Thabo Mbeki's South Africa and the North African Countries.
The 'rich' South Africa, the so well known symbol of Africa to the Western world is hardly African...really. It is more like a Western country managed by a few black men.
Forgive my 'un-patriotism', but I can not see it in any other way. South Africa is not 'black' and cannot be trusted to be 'African'
The North African countries are more ready to be known as 'Arabs' than 'Africans'. So why will they even think of African Unity? It will not happen for them.
Trust is the cornerstone of unity and Africa lacks that.
The Way Forward...
Africa will unite...I believe it. I can say it is almost inevitable but it will take the present generation to start the process. The foundation of the process must be building trust and co-operation between countries. The unity should be spontaneous and not forced, as the countries become so dependant on each other that separate governance is no longer an option.
Commentators should also realise that African unity is not a 'Pan-African thing' and should stop referring to the 'black man', Nkrumah and all that nonsense.
It is about development and the 'salvation' of the millions of Africans impoverished by disunity and lack of direction.
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