Creating The Africa We Want from AGENDA 2063

‘....Agenda 2063, rooted in Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, provides a robust framework for addressing past injustices and the realization of the 21st Century as the African Century’

Whilst the International Development front tangles with the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union has charted its own developmental cause for the African Continent with the mantra ‘Agenda 2063’- The Africa we want. This Continent wide development initiative is not the first of its kind as there has been the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) initiative, aimed at attaining the MDGs.

Source: www.un.org

‘Agenda 2063’ was conceived as a building block from the Pan-Africanist ideas that founded the OAU (organization for Africa Unity) in Addis Ababa in 1963, with a vision to liberate Africa from the shackles of colonialism. And yes, amid the uncertainties of that era, the struggle was won; though there still remain pockets of colonial enclaves dotting from Mayotte, The Chagos Islands and Western Sahara, the abolishment of the Apartheid regime in South Africa remains a sterling fulfilment of the struggles of the OAU in this regard. As such, the opening statement of ‘Agenda 2063’ pays tribute to the initial strides of Pan-Africanism viz:

OAU founding fathers, Kwame Nkrumah and  Haile Selassie at the inauguration of the OAU in Addis Ababa in May 25 1963
Source: bbcnews.com

‘We, the people of Africa and her Diaspora, united in diversity, young and old, men and women, girls and boys from all walks of life, deeply conscious of history, express our deep appreciation to all generations of Pan-Africanist. In particular to the founders of the Organization of African Unity for having bequeathed us an Africa with exemplary successes in the fight against slavery, colonialism and apartheid...’

 CREATING THE AFRICA WE WANT from lessons from the past

This being the mantra of Agenda 2063, the thought of achieving the dream defines its call to action; for the cause of Pan Africanism has transmuted from that of anti-colonial struggles, to administering good governance and attaining sustainable development. The fifty year plan of action which connotes Agenda 2063 was born on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the OAU in May 2013; having succeeded in achieving political independence for 98% of Africa after 50years of its founding.

Source:http://agenda2063.au.int/en/documents/agenda-2063-africa-we-want-popular-version-2nd-edition

Though Pan Africanism seems to be building on a success story of political independence, it will be fool hardy not to take into cognisance the ensuing political maladministration which brewed ethno-religious conflicts/civil wars and near/total economic collapse in most African Countries after their Independence. This disgustingly ‘turned the beggar bowl’ into the hands of most African leaders to the global bipolar powers. As such, Africa has always blamed its woes on the global bipolar actors; from the throes of colonialism, internal/external conflicts, to economic woes.  Such defines the saying that

Africa has achieved political but not economic independence!

Agenda 2063 is an audacious plan and going forward; there are veritable lessons that must be taken into cognisance. After 50 years of amateurship in political leadership and governance, charting a fifty year sustainable development plan calls to question the virtues of competence and dedication in these areas of deficiency. Yet, as inordinate as it seems, it’s achievable.

The world has seen development examples in the Marshall plan that rebuilt a devastated Europe after World War 2; the full emergence and dominance of Asia tiger Nations of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea and not to talk of the glories of the Asiatic powers in China and Japan. All these Nations had one thing in common—they shared trademark devastation from the shackles of Colonialism and Warfare after the Second World War and then emerged to the zenith of development less than 50 years after! Of course, Africa nations must begin to rethink their strategic plan of action in achieving Agenda 2063.. However, one thing must be jettisoned- Africans should stop blaming outside forces especially colonist for its woes.

'PARTNERSHIPS'

The walk of Agenda 2063 will be best achieved if complemented by foreign partnerships. As much as African solutions to African problems are being sought, it will be fool hardy to ignore the investive overtures of foreign partners especially the sincere ones.

As a point of note, China has acted and fulfilled a self tasking donation of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by wholly constructing and donating the ultra modern Africa Union Headquarters building. As such, the Chinese are no push overs in terms of being development partners. More than that, it would be worthy of note for Africa to understudy the Chinese development success story and imbibe some doctrines where necessary.

The $200million AU ultra modern  Headquarter complex donated and constructed by China at Addis Ababa

Africa like China has footprints in indigenous civilization straddling from the Nile Valley in Egypt and Ethiopia to ruins of Great Zimbabwe in the South. India too like China, having an indigenous civilization success story has built on its past despite being colonized to overthrowing the West in the advancement of Software technology, genetic modified medicine/technology and as such spreading her developmental innovations to several sectors. Identifying Africa as a partner in progress, the Indian Prime Minister during the Inaugural India-Africa summit made this statement

"The hearts of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm. We are united by youth - two thirds of India and Africa are below 35. And, if the future belongs to the youth, then this century is ours to shape and build,"...Narenda Modi (Indian Prime Minister)

As the journey into Agenda 2063 is being made, Africa should envy the development strategy of the World’s two most populous nations. Surely there are lots of positives to imitate.

THE AFRICA WE WANT

With so much talk on the diversity and plurality of Africa’s populace, the Chinese and Indians have in their endeavours belittled this. What’s next for Africa is to look beyond its current struggles and march on to the Eldorado of development. The vast human and natural resources provides no room for excuse. Acknowledging the efforts of regional blocs at regional integration from free movement of people and goods, this can be built upon by linking the entire continent by rail.

Of course, talk is cheap but in actualizing Agenda 2063, there must be special focus on African induced technological advancement and industrialization. Away from the talk of gender and sundry rights issues, a self driven technology will surely set Agenda 2063 in auto pilot.

Whilst appreciating the efforts of foreign partners, it is pertinent that the materiel and personnel for Africa’s development future is solely African. Africa cannot keep using non African produced essential products like cars, machines, Infrastructure fittings, clothes etc and expect to attain Agenda 2063. Africa’s educational ivory towers must be empowered to initiate the drive through research funding and project utilization. Only then can we have the Africa we want.

The Youth as drivers for ‘Agenda 2063’

 According to the African Union Commission webpage on youth, ‘About 65% of the total population of Africa are below the age of 35 years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15 and 35 years - making Africa the most youthful continent. By 2020, it is projected that out of 4 people, 3 will be on average 20 years old.

The Youths of all climes are conduits of development in their vicinity and any attempt to disenfranchise their productivity through unemployment has always proved destructive to the society and world at large. Examples of such abound in the fascist movement in Europe that fueled the 2nd World War, several guerrilla movements that fueled civil wars around Africa in the last quarter of the 20th Century, the burgeoning revolution of the Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East and social vices of armed robbery and gangsterism; all of which make use of youths as foot soldiers.

As such, it is imperative that the African youth be positively engaged and harnessed. Only then can Agenda 2063 for ‘the Africa we want’ be achieved.

THE BURKINABE REVOLUTION: EXPOSING AN INEFFECTUAL AFRICAN UNION

When thousands of Burkinabes stormed the streets of Ouagadougou in a massive protest which saw the Country’s Parliament building go up in flames and ultimately terminating the twenty seven year Presidency of Blaise Campaore in the fall October 2014, the World and indeed Sub-Saharan Africa was thrown aghast with thoughts of another impending revolution.

Burkinabes protesting in October 2014 against the quest of Blaise Campore to seek an additional term in office
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29948773

For not too long ago, the Arab Spring which emanated from North Africa reverberated the entire Arab Middle East and ensured the downfall of three of Africa’s longest serving leaders in Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi (42yrs), Tunisia’s Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali (24yrs) and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak (30yrs); with the downfall of another of Africa’s longest serving Ruler in Burkina Faso, there were fears that this could trigger an ‘Africa Hamarttan’ across Sub-Saharan Africa.

In an apparent bid to stabilize the Burkinabe situation, the Presidents of Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana under the aegis of ECOWAS and The African Union flew in to Ouagadougou to meet with the Military who had already filled the power vacuum, urging them to form a transitional government and hand over power to a Civilian head within two weeks or face sanctions. In a riposte to this demand, the Burkinabe Military leader Lt Col Isaac Zida blurted that;

"We are not afraid of sanctions; we care much more about stability,"

"We have waited on the African Union in moments when it should have shown its fraternity and its friendship but instead was not there,"

"It's unfortunate but it's not too late."

Burkina Faso's new Military Ruler Lt Col Isaac Zida welcoming Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to Ouagadougou for an AU/ECOWAS initiated transition talk
Source: http://encomium.ng/president-goodluck-jonathan-arrives-ouagadougou-bukina-faso-to-help-facilitate-the-rapid-resolution-of-the-current-political-crisis-in-bukina-faso-on-wednesday/

The African Union and its constituent regional bodies have always taken an ominous stand when confronted issues of Military Coup d’états in African Countries, and seemly take a sanctimonious stand in threatening and imposing sanctions. However, it must be noted that the Africa Union was powerless during the Arab spring and could not save its founder and self proclaimed King of kings of Africa--- Muammar Gaddafi.

Originally founded from the fusion of regional blocs and Pan-Africanist ideas of founding fathers in Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Senegal’s Leopold Senghor, Nigeria’s Nnamdi Azikwe, Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta, Ethiopia’s Haile Sellasie, and Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda the Organization of African Unity (OAU) sought to liberate the Africa from colonial rule. After an initial successful manifesto, the OAU lost steam and relevance as the founding fathers where all embroiled in instituting one party states and stifling opposition groups in their domains. Governance in independent Africa was served at mediocre level and not the excuse of leadership naivety could sustain the seeming tyrannical rule of the Pan- African fathers in their respective countries.

One by one, they were all butted out of power by the barrel of the gun amid ensuing economic and social chaos which subjected most African countries to Military dictatorships and internecine civil wars starting from the late 1960’s. In all these, the OAU maintained a figurative ceremonial existence even as its regional power houses had no moral right to set sanctimonious standards-- Ethiopia was under the a Military dictatorship of the ‘Derg’ and grappling with a civil war, Nigeria was under Military dictatorship and under sanctions from  Euro-American supranational Organizations, and other countries not under military rule were apparently under civilian styled tyrannical one party states; Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Malawi being perfect examples.

On the advent of the new Millennium in the 21^st Century, the OAU rebranded into the African Union (AU) following after the European model of the EU (European Union); among all its quest was that of good governance and this was instituted by the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development). This assured that with the institution of multi party democracy in most Countries in Sub-Saharan  Africa, an improved development partnership with other global supranational organizations will ensue. Buoyed by the tact willingness of South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, Senegal’s Abdoulaye Wade, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Algeria’s AbdulAzeez Bouteflika, the AU set sail on these notion and promises.

However, this noble quest was called to question by unrest in Cote d’ Ivoire, Military take overs in Mali and Guniea. Whilst all these were resolved, there has still been an underlying inquest of the dedication to the sanctimonious demands of the AU in constituent Countries as some long serving African rulers seek to consolidate their grip on power as seen in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe (now serving 34yrs), Angola’s Jose Eduardo Dos Santos (now serving 35yrs), Equatorial Guniea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema (now serving 35yrs), Cameroun’s Paul Biya (now serving 32yrs), and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni (now serving 28yrs).

Regardless of the length of years in power, what is most important in leadership is the administration of fairness, equity, justice and good governance with concomitant development. After all, there are nations that do not have presidential/Prime Ministerial term limits like the United kingdom, Canada, Italy, Australia etc, but their citizens do have attendant freedom to decide their leaders.

Aside the question of length of stay in power, African regimes are still bothered with the question of administering development and good governance. This is the major cause for civil agitation Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea etc and as such, rulers of these nations do not have a sanctimonious say on how other African countries should be governed.

From the experience of the Arab spring in Libya, revolutions do not come cheap and democratic governance might not ensure ‘unabated freedom’ as seen in Egypt aside the Tunisian exception which is a rare occurrence. As another of Africa’s long serving regime falls in Burkina Faso, it is insinuated that a political quake might be in the offing for other long serving regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

As usual, the AU, SADC, IGAD and ECOWAS will always come to the fray whenever such political fallouts occur, but as usual, their overtures might just be ignored until individual countries do the needful—administer leadership through justice, equity, fairness with concomitant good governance and development else it will be a proverbial kettle calling pot black.

‘And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ⁴ Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? ⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye’.

Matt 7:3-5 (KJV)