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Saturday 31 December 2016

Development Catalysts: liberation struggles or Good governance?

The quandary of effecting Eldorado developmental promises is a common dilemma in most newly politically independently countries. Birthed from a collection of peoples of different ethno-religious leanings, colonists tend not to respect existent socio-political delineations; rather choosing to delineate territories based on obnoxious treaties drafted on the colonist terms and thenceforth hobnobbing an agglomeration of peoples of divergent ethno-religious leanings into one political entity. These peoples then unite under a common cause of anti-colonial movements to achieve political independence.
By the adoption of the Atlantic Charter by foremost colonials in the United Kingdom and its subsequent metamorphoses of the United Nations Charter in 1945, colonial and occupied dominions were guaranteed self-determination and independence and as such, colonial governance became non acceptable in the international commune.
The end of the Second World War ushered in the emergence of new Nation States albeit from the shackles of colonialism in Africa and Asia. These nations were referred to as those from the backwaters of development or 3rd World Countries. Their paths to development was made more sinister by the sharp divergent bipolarity of global powers in the USA and USSR, each garnering allies and seeking new grounds to wield their socio-economic propaganda of Capitalism and Communism in proselytizing client/satellite states. As such, most emergent nation states foundered along these divergent economic paths whilst living up the realities of internal political squabbles. Hence development in most newly political emergent countries of the 20th century was torn between bipolar allegiance and internal political coherence and concord.
Whilst most Nation States of Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia emerged in their present forms no thanks to imperial ambitions, and internecine ethno-religious conflicts especially between the 17th & 19th Centuries; causing alignment of borders and wholesale population and territorial exchanges, emergence of most African and Asian States had imperial and colonial ambitions to thank for their present forms.

Source: http://aidnography.blogspot.com.ng/

Effecting development has been an intersection cataclysms and abysmal efforts in Africa as most countries are torn betwixt accepting their ascribed National identities gained from colonialism or carving new ones. Issues bothering on Governance and political administration structures are thorny and never settling as ethno-religious fears are rife and pierce the very soul of their Nationhood.
And whilst most Sub-Saharan Countries grapple with effecting the very fundamentals of development in their domains, fellow development backwater Nations of Eastern Asia have stridden, matched and now dictate developmental models globally. Aside the emergence of Western Europe and Japan from the ruins of World War Two thanks to American invented developmental models in the Marshall plan, the developmental strides of South Eastern Asian Nation states now referred to as Asian Tiger Nations present enviable models for Sub-Saharan African Nations. For in defining and creating a new world order for themselves in the ‘Non-Aligned Movement’ they rose above dereliction to developmental pace setters, never waiting for International Developmental Models such as the MDGs and SDGs to advance, but rather sought to harness their human and natural resource capitals thus becoming the manufacturing capital of the World. As such, India has dethroned USA’s Silicon Valley and techy allied sectors as the Worlds tech capital; China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand are now the World’s manufacturing capitals as most companies would rather host their manufacturing bases in these Asiatics, and Singapore known for its entreport activities stands as the financial capital of the region. All these, while Sub-Saharan countries grapple in a continual blame game of colonial decadence, Asian Tiger Nations have now begun to carve economic hubs and niches on the African continent in series of aid packages and economic interventionism summits such as the recent China-Africa Summit and India – Africa Summit.
The political answer to the Asian revival has never until the last decade of the 20th Century been clear cut in Western terms of Democracy. Aside India which has remain a stellar beacon as the world’s most populous democracy devoid Coup d’états, most Asian tiger nations have been riddled with military interventionism’s, long periods of seeming civilian dictatorships as exemplified in the 31year rule of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, and closed systems of political governance as exemplified in China’s communist system. Asian Tiger Nations have been able to adopt and modify suitable political systems to effect their development stratagem.
Ex-Singaporean Prime Minister and Architect of Singapore's development wonder
Source:http://edunloaded.com/insights/remembering-lee-kuan-yew/

The Asian success stories whilst congenial with the start-up background experience of colonial repression and amorphous Nationhood amalgamation as with Africa has stood tall whilst Sub-Saharan African Countries continually trade the colonial blame game. More sinisterly is the African political experience which testifies of upheavals as most colonial liberators handed the reins of power upon independence, have proved extremely clueless in the face of global dynamism. Rather, such leaders have turned themselves to power despots seeking to entrench their political positions as family hegemonies. Pernicious still is the unabated syphon of National funds into personal foreign accounts in Western domains- such is never wanton in the Asian experience. Not that corruption does not exist there but draining National coffers to Western personal accounts is least existent.
Aside the common throes of colonialism which is common to Africa and Asia, Southern African countries are emerging from Apartheid- an extreme form of White colonial subjugation which has entrenched endemic social wounds which even political independence is failing to heal. As such, whatever seems to have been gained in developmental terms during periods of White Supremacist rule is gradually falling apart in the face of black justice political movements. Healing and reparation modalities of the apartheid effect in Southern Africa remains a trillion-dollar question.
Sub-Saharan Africa like Asian tigers have colonial past to sneer at. Nevertheless, Asian tiger Nations emerged from the doldrums of development to entrench themselves as exemplary development stellars.

Going forward, the rhetorical question still reverberates; what are the catalyst for development? Colonial/Political liberation struggles or good governance typified by Western style democratic term limits? A combination of both or an evolution and adoption of something else? 

Sunday 13 November 2016

Donald Trump and the American Presidency




The news of the victory of Donald Trump in the just concluded presidential elections of the United States of America has left many political pundits and US election observers astounded in its wake. It was seen by many as ‘a US cloned BREXIT’ which in a sense fulfilled one of the several humorous remarks of Donald Trump in that he would pull off "Brexit times 10".

Donald Trump cast in shadows
Source: bbcnews.com

A political neophyte whose presidential ambition was seen as sinisterly from his usual trademark slurry remarks on issues of all sorts ranging from spats of banning Muslim immigration into the USA, to calling Mexicans “rapists", "murderers" and "criminals", and pledging as an electoral promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border—a project of which he says would be funded by the Mexicans; his chances were written off even before the conclusion of his party’s primaries. Yet after a surprise emergence at the end of the Republican primaries, Trump’s presidential hopes were shoved aside as he faced a formidable and more political experienced Democratic Party Candidate in Hillary Clinton.
As the Presidential campaigns of both candidates trudged on, it was unusually besmirched by character mudslinging instigated by Donald Trump, instead of the usual policy debate US Presidential electioneering campaigns were noted for. In one of such instances, Trump once said Hillary Clinton ‘deserves an award’ for co-founding ISIS (The Islamic State). He also once remarked that Hillary has to be jailed for the scandals bothering upon her use of personal servers during her tenure as Secretary of States.
“In fact, in many respects, you know they honour President Obama, Isis is honouring President Obama. He is the founder of Isis. He is the founder of Isis. He’s the founder. He founded Isis.
“And I would say the co-founder would be crooked Hillary Clinton. Co-founder. Crooked Hillary Clinton.”
"This is the most heinous, the most serious thing that I've ever seen involving justice in the United States — in the history of the United States."
"We have a person that has committed crimes that is now running for the presidency.".....Donald Trump
For all his swirling wise cracks and politically incorrect statements, Donald Trump was seen by many as a ‘happenstance joker’ whose humour would be silenced forever at the polls. Yet his followership was astounding as though politically incorrect by candour and statements, he was seen as ‘saying the truth’ or speaking his mind unlike professional politician Hillary who was seen in some circles as a liar by her seeming politically correct statements. Never minding that some of his party men including ex-US presidents disowning him, on this presumptive feel did Trump’s campaign machination soar whilst the politically correct media postulated his waterloo in a Napoleonic happenstance at the November 8 Polls.
 
Donald Trump
Source: bbcnews.com
Donald Trump emerged president elect of the USA to the chagrin of the politically correct camp and Democratic party supporters no thanks to his garnering of sufficient electoral college votes though losing the popular votes narrowly to Hillary Clinton.
And while the camp of the political correct world and Democratic Party moans, Donald Trump and an unlikely admirer in Russian President Vladimir Putin, triumph in ecstasy. The world fears the creation of a new world order shattering the current sharp and strong bipolar divide fronted by the USA and Russia at both nodes which Trump is thought be set to unorchestrate. Yet for all Trump’s aggrandized speech to ‘Make America Great Again’, there will be lots of bureaucratic institutional policy bottle necks typical of the US democratic system that would hamper Trump’s electoral manifesto when he assumes presidential office.
A definitive point of note for Trump’s presidency will be the trend of the cornerstone of his foreign policy. While his cosiness with Vladmir Putin seems to unnerve the acrimonious bipolar trend between the West and Russia through the length of Obama’s presidency, he has to cautiously watch his remarks about the NATO alliance, issues bothering on Nuclear and defence deals with Iran, Japan and South Korea; and trade deals between China and the US, not forgetting his rhetoric on immigration.
In all, the Trump presidency will be eventful to watch not forgetting that his excesses could be chequered as soon as in two years’ time after the US mid term Congressional elections. In a case where the Republican party lose majority in both houses of Congress, who says impeachment cannot be a weapon?
Of a surety a new order is in the waiting to be defined by the Trump presidency. Such a one which not even Trump’s current 75 active lawsuits will impede. Whether in or out of court or in the White House, Trump must govern and greet the waiting world with what he has to offer!


Monday 8 August 2016

My UNCTAD'14 Memoir


The recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development held in Nairobi, Kenya, was a first time opportunity for me to attend a High Level United Nations event aside Model United Nations which I have been accustomed to attending a foretime. Held in quadrennials since its founding in 1964 in Geneva Switzerland, the 2016 edition was the 14th edition of the conference, and the second of its kind to be held in Nairobi Kenya from 17th to 22nd July 2016, under the caption ‘From Decision to Actions’.

My journey to Nairobi was afforded by sheer benevolence of friends and colleagues, as a tight personal budget sinisterly constrained by the dire down spiral of Nigeria’s economic situation almost strangled my desire to attend the conference. However, with a timely intervention by Dr. John Alonge, who linked me with Chambers Umezulike offerring to host my proposed stay at Nairobi, and an intersection of favourable climes in my work place at the time of the conference, catalysed my efforts to attend the conference.
Captioned from Decisions to Actions, the Conference was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi. Preconference events of Regional Group Meetings, Workshops sessions of the World Investment Forum and activities at the Global Commodities Forum and Civil Society Forum on 15th-17th July, signalled the prelude to the main conference. Arriving Nairobi in the wee hours of 16th July, I was welcomed by a legendary courteous diplomatic treat, such as afforded to UNCTAD’14 delegates at the Immigration point. Fearing to venture into town at that time of the morning, I was provided security assurance by some Kenyan Policewomen on duty at the airport. One of them offered to help dial my host to inform him of my arrival.
My stay at Nairobi afforded me the opportunity of hooking up with some Zain Africa Challenge colleagues. As such, Barrister Charles Mwalimu aided this by picking me at the airport to the reunion spot at Mlolongo. As much as I thought I’d prepared for the conference, I was besmirched by the Nairobi weather which was damn too cold for me at 11 -15 degrees Celsius.
Reunion Photo with Some Kenyan Zain Africa Challenge 2009 Colleagues
From left: Albert Gicheha (Kenyatta University), Me at the centre and Barrister Charles Mwalimu (Busoga University) at the right
The conference itself was an agglomeration of several side events such as The Youth Forum, Civil society Forum, World Investment Forum; held in concomitant tandem with the main track of Ministerial Round tables and Negotiations of stakeholders of member Nations. At the opening plenary, the Nigerian delegation was led by The CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, and subsequently, the Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelama was present to front the Nigerian course at subsequent ministerial forums at the conference.
With the Nigerian Delegation at the Opening Plenary Session led by Mr Olusegun Awolowo (Left)

The opening plenary session had the following dignitaries in attendance: UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon; Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta; Ugandan Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi; Kenyan Cabinet, Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Muhammed, UNCTAD’14 Secretary General, Mukhisa Kituyi among other important dignitaries.
Drawing from the conference theme which was apparently inspired from the newly launched Sustainable Development Goals, the UNSG in his opening remarks expressed deep concerns about the growing trend of ethnic Nationalism around the world, which is posing a threat to globalization and its recent gains; a cumulative of which will hamper efforts at attaining the SDGs by 2030.
Trade must provide prosperity in ways that work for people and planet and respond to the challenges of climate change.... We must also put a proper value on assets, such as ecosystem services, and correctly price systemic and interconnected risk, such as that posed by climate change. There are more than enough savings in the global economy to drive the transformation that the SDGs call for, but our investments need to become better aligned with sustainable development....Ban Ki Moon
UNSG, Ban Ki Moon delivering his opening remarks at UNCTAD'14 opening plenary session
I struggled to work my conference schedule to attend other side events aside the Youth Forum which I was registered for; but as much as I tried, the concurrence of events on the programme schedule didn’t help my course.
The Youth Forum was formally inaugurated on 19th July by the UNCTAD’14SG, after sundry informal activities aimed at team building and bonding. In his opening remarks, the UNCTADSG emphasized the uniqueness of UNCTAD; a rare UN agency where every member nation has an equal voice and a vote unlike most UN agencies where a nation’s vote is equal to the number of contributory dollars it has. He urged youths to intensify their respective developmental activities to help shape the world we want as we would be development drivers and have to account for the tenure of the SDGs by 2030, and then set another global agenda beyond that date.
Youth Forum Delegates Bonding with the UNCTAD'14 SG, Mukhisa Kituyi
The Forum was divided into three breakout sessions for delegates to discuss thematic subjects on Quality Education, Better Jobs and Government/State Accountability. I joined the education group and in the end, each group drafted a working document on these subthemes to serve as the official Youth Declaration Document to be presented the Ministerial High level event segment of the Youth Forum.
My discussion Subgroup teammates in the Education thematic group 
It was enthusing slinging ideas with delegates from different National backgrounds on the thematic issues and noting several peculiar regional problems bothering on these thematic subjects.
Rubbing minds with Priyash Bista after the end of the Ministerial High Level event of the UNCTAD'14 Youth Forum
I found time to attend World Investment Forum sessions of the High Level Tripartite Conference on Investment Promotion in the SDGs and Promoting Investment in Urban Development. At both sessions, it was obvious that East Asian Nations led by China would provide the investment impetus to effect development in the Global South Nations whilst development funding was satirely hailed as a trillion-dollar question.
The Panellist at the High Level Tripartite Conference on Investment Promotion in the SDGs
The Global commodities hub provided an opportunity for member states to show case investment opportunities in their respective countries, especially by display of produce/commodities locally accustomed to member nations. I found time to explore the scenario and was greeted with the dominant display of various typologies of Kenyan tea and coffee. I was told Kericho county produce the best Kenyan tea. I ended up shopping for tea to present as travel souvenir to my colleagues back home.
Made friends with the Thailand delegation at the Global Commodities Hub
The Conference winded up with closing sessions at the various side events and capped with the closing ceremony, plenary session and the signing of the Nairobi Consensus, to drive UNCTAD’s agenda for the next four years. Heavily constrained by funds, I could not afford safari tours; however, I comforted myself with the warm hospitality of my host and his neighbours at the University of Nairobi Hostel. No thanks to the deft culinary skills of Sudanese born Kordofan lady in Chichiley Haroun, my taste buds were groomed to East African delicacies such as Ugali, Mokimo and Mandazi.
Grooming my taste buds to East African Delicacies. Ugali on show

After an enthralling moment at Nairobi, I made my way back to Nigeria humming the UNCTAD’14 Youth Forum Theme Song composed by Elani,..Together! Pamoja!. and rethinking the course to action on driving the global development agenda from my local corner.

Thursday 4 August 2016

Turkey: Standing Firm on Thin Ropes


Amid the drooling chaos in the endless contiguous conflict situations spiralling across the Middle East; from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the raging civil wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen; the international community stands perplexed at simmering thoughts of an additional unstable country within that region. With nearly all Middle Eastern countries having an intriguing stake in the belligerent activity across the region, and somewhat at a risk of conflagrating into violence, the recent situation in Turkey stands out in the perplexing Middle East conflict intrigues.
Straddling between Europe and Asia, and a heritage of the last Great Empire of the which controlled the Middle East in the Ottoman Empire, Turkey stands as a physical bridge and buffer between Europe and Asia; and between the ‘West’ and ‘East’.
After long enjoying long relative peaceful spells in her dual relations with the ‘West’ and ‘East’ and even Israel (A country which most Muslim Countries hold an unending animosity with), the turn of the decade flayed cracks on a seeming perfect multi-bloc relationship Turkey had long maintained.
First it was with Israel after the Gaza flotilla incident of May 2010 in which 10 Turkish activists were killed by Israeli troops; Turkey severed diplomatic relations with Israel after that incident. Then the onset of the Syrian Civil War smouldering from the Arab Spring in 2011.  After initial fence sitting on the crises, the Turkish position moved from passive to active opposition of the Government as initially highlighted from downing incidents of Syrian Jets by Turkey and vice versa in 2014 and 2012. And then came incidences with Russia November 2015 when the Turkish air force downed two Russian jets supporting the Syrian government’s war effort in an alleged accusation of encroaching its air space; this incident of course attracted sanctions from Russia which threatened to ground Turkish businesses in the tourism and construction sector.
A resurgence of Kurdish separatism especially borne under the auspices of an alleged tacit Turkish support for Jihadist rebel groups in Syria who in turn simmered instability in parts of Turkey via suicide bombings, and Turkish wariness of an autonomous Kurdish armed entity in Syria, raised the flares of instability within Turkey via armed attacks against the Turkish State by the PKK.
On the political front, the governing AKP struggled to consolidate a majority government in the last elections after surviving electoral scares from the pro-Kurdish HDP in preceding elections. In a firm attempt to stamp political authority, the governing AKP led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to purge dissenting voices especially from Fethullah Gulen an ex-ally, and from within the Military who have long been touted as the protector of Turkish Democracy and guardian of Ataturk’s ideals. This has set the Turkish government at odds in its long sought bid for EU membership. Though some concessions have been reached in recent times following the Turkish-EU agreement over the Syrian refugee crises, it all seems to be under threat following a backlash with EU ideals and Turkish local policies. In fact, all seemed to be coming to a bridgehead following the botched Coup d’état of 15th July.
Turkish Civilians flogging surrendered Coupist on the Bosphorus Bridge
Source: bbcnews.com
Recognizing her strategic importance in the Middle East and as the Eastern frontier Bastion of the NATO Western military alliance, and considering the inundation by Syrian refugees from the neighbouring Syrian conflict; and potential Military isolation by her NATO allies in its recent standoff with Russia whose sanctions thudded economic savagery, Turkey has begun to repair its relationship fault lines consequential from its recent foreign policy which seemed to negate the Kemalist ideals of ‘Peace at home and peace in the World’.
Caricature of US based Turkish Cleric, Fethulah Gulen, The acclaimed villain of recent Turkish political squabbles
Source: bbcnews.com
First in the foreign relation restoration drive in June was Israel, followed by an apology to Russia over the November 2015 jet downing incident and then extension of the olive branch to the Assad led Syrian Government after severing diplomatic ties in 2011.
"We normalised relations with Russia and Israel. I'm sure we will normalise relations with Syria as well. For the fight against terrorism to succeed, stability needs to return to Syria and Iraq."..... Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim
Turkey has forged the progressive path in normalizing relations with Countries which it has had recent diplomatic spats with. This progressive diplomatic gains seem to be clogged by recent internal political squabbles thus casting a shadow on recent diplomatic reconciliations in the international front.

Ultimately, the ‘pull’ and ‘push’ forces throbbing the soul of Turkish polity will have to resonate to an acceptable equilibrium to help the current Turkish Government maintain foundational Kemalist principles and retain her strategic role as a physical bridge and buffer of the global bipolar world.

Wednesday 6 July 2016

BREXIT: 'TO BE' OR 'NOT TO BE'

 "We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not comprised. We are interested and associated, but not absorbed.".......Winston Churchill

Source:http://www.knowledgeatwharton.com.es/article/estrategia-crucial-de-salida-por-que-el-brexit-puede-hundir-la-ue/

The results of the recent European Union membership referendum of 23rd June in the United Kingdom, in which the Country narrowly voted to leave the 28-member socio-political continental wide body has generated attendant worrying ripples amongst the EU power broker Nations and ponderous aftershocks within the United Kingdom itself; with the economy and cooperate entity of the Country being called to question.
Priding herself as a stand-alone European victor against Nazi dominated Continental Europe after World War Two, whilst yearning for a peaceful and prosperous Europe; the United Kingdom preferably stood back on the side-lines during the formative periods of what is now known as the EU today. Despite being invited to be one of the founding countries of the ‘Pan European’ project, the UK twice declined the offer as a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
As a global power with far flung domains across the Oceans which at its peak comprised about 25% of the earth’s surface, the UK leveraged on her colonies across North America, Africa and especially the Indian subcontinent for raw materials to feed its burgeoning industries and market to satisfy her industrialization demands. Even with an imminent empire liquidation after the World War 2, the UK still hoped for business as usual in terms of international trade in a renewed relationship arrangement with her ex-colonies now referred to as The Common Wealth.
The British empire at its heights in 1920
Source: http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=173340&start=375

And whilst the economies of the EEC (European Economic Community) member nations flowered in the 1950’s and 1960’s, that of the UK foundered as emergent independent nations from the ‘British Empire’ sought new trading relationships overlooking a much loathed British colonial trading arrangement.
Aiming to catch-up with the now fast economic paced EEC member Countries and seeking to explore the continental market, the UK launched a bid for EEC membership in 1963 and 1967 during which both membership bids were blocked courtesy of vetoes by the then French President, Charles de Gaulle.
Charles de Gaulle
Source:http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26515129

Aside glaring scepticism to the Pan-European project at its founding even when initially invited to join, De Gaulle identified an inherent adaptation problem of the British to Euro idealism which the EEC stood for in these words.

“England in effect is insular, she is maritime, she is linked through her exchanges, her markets, her supply lines to the most diverse and often the most distant countries; she pursues essentially industrial and commercial activities, and only slight agricultural ones. She has in all her doings very marked and very original habits and traditions”

Only the exit of De Gaulle’s presidency in France in 1969 was the United Kingdom application to join the EEC accepted in 1973. Even at that, the question of how much power be devolved from the UK to the EEC besmirched the long-term membership commitment of the UK to the Pan-European socio-political project. As such, referendum came calling in 1975 with an overwhelming 65% voting to stay in the EEC. Yet the underlining intrigues of British Euroscepticism kept being brought to bare viz:
·        Not being able to benefit from EEC Agricultural subsidies because of its low agricultural output compared to other EEC member nations
·        The reluctance to devolve economic and political power to the EEC.

"We are not prepared to accept the principle that the most vital economic forces of this country should be handed over to an authority which is utterly undemocratic and is responsible to nobody!"
Clement Attlee, 1950

Renewed British choosiness towards the Pan-European project was evident during the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 which led to the formation of the European Union; the UK opted out of the section of the treaty dealing with social policy, as well as of joining the monetary and economic union. As such, it was no surprise that the British earlier opted off the Schengen free border agreement in 1985.
Ultimately, growing discontent that the UK was giving more than it gets from the EU led to a call for a second EU referendum resulting in a shock narrow victory of 52% for the leave campaigners. Unlike in 1975 when dissenting referendum voices were not discerned, the devolution of powers to the sectoral constituent makeup of the United Kingdom in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with each able to pursue an option of self-determination has added a new twist to the BREXIT debacle, as the constituent referenda votes in these constituents voted to stay in the EU; the majority ‘leave’ vote coming from England.
Not forgetting the Gibraltar (a British enclave on the Iberian peninsula claimed by Spain) which also voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU for the sake of economic viability, calls for a second Scottish referendum should the UK leave the EU has made BREXIT a pyrrhic victory for the leave campaigners, as this might trigger an unhappy dissolution of the UK leaving England isolated outside the EU in a diminished status; thereby calling to question the global power status of the UK within the United Nations and the International commune.
To evade such, the UK will have to find a way of renegotiating its relationship with the EU without necessarily leaving, though the referendum in itself is only advisory and not legally binding. Even when the UK decides to finally trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty to leave the EU, it might take extra-long years outside the stipulated two years for the UK to find its feet with treaties to enact her EU exit status.
With the economy already taking a nosedive and the Pound sterling already taking a plunge due to uncertainties about the UK’s long-term EU status, there are already regrets even amongst the leave campaigners that the UK might just have shot herself in the foot.
Accepting her diminished status as a once great power is hard for the British and whilst striving hard to salvage national pride, current trends bothering on international trade has to be taken cognisance of. And yes, the British just like the Swiss can preserve her distinctness whilst still being part of Europe
"This is a painful choice and it is deeply regrettable both for the UK and Europe. But this choice is theirs and we must respect it, accepting all the consequences. ”.. Francois Hollande


Wednesday 25 May 2016

FORWARD OR BACKWARDS? SOUTH SUDAN ON BRINKS

"I have no doubt that his return to Juba today marks the end of the war and the return of peace and stability to South Sudan," Mr  Salva Kiir

South Sudan reactivated another course to peace with the inauguration of a new transition government highlighted by the oath taking of Riek Machar, reinaugurated as vice president of the world’s youngest nation state on 26th April 2016.

A bill board featuring President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar in Juba
Source:bbcnews.com

This fete is expected put an end to an imbecilic two year civil war which was ignited from an alleged Coup d’état on 16th December 2013. Since that date,over two million South Sudanese have been displaced, exiled or killed as the big wigs in the SPLM (South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) fractured and frictioned along ethnic lines in an ultimate battle for political dominance. The ensuing belligerence pitted Vice President Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer against President Salva Kiir an ethnic Dinka.
Consequentially, the civilian population bore the brunt of the power tussle as both belligerent parties sought to outwit and eliminate each other. This saw the obliteration of Malakal (South Sudan’s second largest city), Bentiu, Bor and several other nascent infrastructures in the burgeoning state.
Born in 2011, after an overwhelming vote for secession from Sudan following after years of conflict in what was termed Africa’s longest running civil war; it was expected that the newly independent country activates a rapid march to development and prosperity of her peoples after years of alleged repression and neglect by Sudan. It was however disheartening to the optimistic euphoria that enamoured international support for the South Sudanese cause when the country slided back to anarchy in December 2013, despite being a battle ground during long running civil war that fetched her independence between 1956-2002.
Most hapless to note was the indiscretion on the part of the South Sudanese leadership in learning from the inadequacies of fellow African States (Most of which emerged from colonialism 50yrs ago).
Independence Celebrations in Juba
Source:bbcnews.com

The issues that led to the recent conflict were deeply entrenched from the splinter within the SPLA/M (Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement) ranks during the second Sudanese civil war along ethnic lines in 1991 as the Nuers led by Riek Machar sought to usurp the leadership role of John Garang (A Dinka) at the helm of the SPLA. In the end, Riek Machar led a breakaway faction under the pseudonym SPLM-Nasir, even as the mainstream John Garang led faction was informally christened SPLM-Torit.
Afterwards, the splinter factions turned the guns on each other even as the Riek Machar led SPLA-Nasir perpetuated the Bor massacre against the Dinka in 1991. In the end, the SPLA-Nasir allied with the Sudanese government thus sabotaging the South Sudanese quest against the government. Both parties buried the hatchet and reunited in January 2002 to jointly push the South Sudanese cause.
The sudden death of John Garang in a helicopter crash in July 2005 exposed the old fractious lines within the ranks of the SPLA , as Salva Kiir assumed the helm. Seen as academically inferior to the Bradford University doctorate holder in Riek Machar who has always set sights at the SPLA helm, the stage was set for a renewed Dinka-Nuer rivalry in a battle for political supremacy for the helm of South Sudanese polity.
This inordinate political power fracture ultimately simmered into a power tussle as Riek Machar (being vice president at independence) was sacked from his post in July 2013 in a massive cabinet and Military hierarchical shake up by President Salva Kiir. The country ultimately descended into civil war in an ironic repeat of the SPLA factional war of the 1990’s.

South Sudan's massive humanitarian crises caused by the civil war
Source:bbcnews.com

With peace on the horizon thanks to coercive efforts by regional powers in IGAD, AU and the UN, South Sudan has another chance to pursue the path development.
For too long since 1956 after Sudanese independence from Anglo-Egyptian hegemony, the black Nilotic peoples which comprise South Sudan had decried repressive tendencies by the Northern dominated government against their cultural and religious identities. Having now attained the long sought independence, Africa’s youngest state must set aside the whims of ethno-tribal schisms which have always been a divisive factor against development and integration amongst the older African States and seek her strength in diversity.

Sociopolitical repression and colonialism has always been a unifying factor that synegizes the quest for liberty in emergent states. However as it has always been with most African states, divergence in synergy fracturing along the lines of ethno-religious divisions shatter the strength of the purpose for independence. South Sudan must synergize to fix this rabid pandemic if she must aspire to march forward in the path of development after close to sixty years down the brinks.